The Interdependent Systems in an Energy-Efficient Home

If your goal is an energy-efficient home, you might make the mistake of considering the parts instead of the whole. For example, you might consider replacing the windows without factoring in how they could affect the heating load on your furnace. You see, the various systems in your home work similarly to the organs in your body. One system supports the others. And when one system isn’t working the way it should, it affects the rest. Again taking that window example–when you delay replacing your old, inefficient windows with new units, even the most energy-efficient furnace won’t do the job it’s intended to do. This is called the whole-house approach to energy efficiency. Here are some steps you can take to maximize the energy efficiency of your home as a whole:

• Air sealing: You want the conditioned air from your HVAC system to circulate where it’s intended to circulate–inside your home. Sealing the cracks and gaps in your exterior can help your heating system do its job.
• Sealing your ductwork: Improperly sized and/or leaky ducts do more than waste energy. They compromise your home’s air quality by drawing in contaminated air from unconditioned spaces. Your air filtration system must now work harder.
• Insulating: Like air sealing, insulating your home can boost your heating and cooling systems’ efficiency. Pay special attention to to the attic, which tends to radiate heat into your living space during the summer. Conversely, heated air in your living space tends to go into an attic if it’s not insulated.
• Your HVAC equipment is the heart of your home–in terms of energy systems. After you’ve purchased your HVAC equipment, keep it in top operating form by changing the air filters as needed and tending to your annual maintenance. 
• Your appliances can significantly add to or detract from your home’s energy efficiency. A new dishwasher, for example, can help to conserve the water you pay to heat. Check the yellow EnergyGuide label whenever you’re replacing an appliance.

For more expert information about energy-efficiency, and what you can do to boost your home’s performance, contact the experts at CR Wolf Heating and Air Conditioning. We can help you take a whole-house approach and answer all of your questions. We have been serving Middletown-area homeowners for more than 60 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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