Page 3 - TR Home Lawn Garden 2016

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN • THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016 3SS
DIAL IT DOWN
SAY ‘SO LONG’ TO HIGH UTILITY BILLS
Utility bills are among the largest expenses homeowners have each month. Trimming utility bills not
only benefits homeowners’ bottom lines, but also proves beneficial for the environment.
Unnecessary energy consumption can drive up utility bills, costing homeowners substantial amounts of money every year. For- tunately, homeowners can take several steps to reduce unnecessary energy consumption, saving themselves money and helping the planet along the way.
CONDUCT NIGHTLY ENERGY AUDITS
Before going to bed at night, homeown- ers can spend a few minutes walking around their homes making sure all devices, ap- pliances and lights are turned off. Devices left on when not in use may not consume
significant amounts of energy on their own, but when many are left on, the resulting energy consumption can be considerable. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that unplugging cable boxes each night can save homeowners nearly $20 per box over the course of a year. Unplugging additional ap- pliances each night when they are not in use can add to those savings while reducing excessive energy consumption.
CLEAN FILTERS MORE FREQUENTLY
It’s easy to forget about filters on heating and air-conditioning systems, but forgotten filters could be costing homeowners signif- icant amounts of money. When neglected, HVAC filters accumulate dirt and dust, mak- ing systems work much less efficiently than when filters are clean. It’s good to change
A smart thermostat can allow you to program your home’s heating and cooling. It can even shut off the air conditioner automatically while you’re away.
your HVAC filter once a month to reduce stress on your system, said Mike Graff, owner of Mike Graff Service Co. in Beebe.
BUY A SMART THERMOSTAT
A modern, smart thermostat will allow you to program your HVAC system to shut itself off when you are away from home or when you go to bed. Some systems can even detect when you are away and shut down automatically.
“Why heat an unoccupied house?” Graff said. “You won’t have to remember to turn the heat or air down before leaving the house. Program the thermostat once, and forget it.”
ADD INSULATION
A good rule of thumb for attic insulation is to have about 3 to 4 inches in the attic. This will help keep the hot air in the attic from heating your home in the summer.
“A properly insulated attic will help re- duce energy consumption while making your home more comfortable all year round,” he said.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative with contributions by Cody Graves, special sections writer