Save Energy
Is your home as energy efficient as it could be? Keeping the warm air in during winter and keeping the hot air out during the summer helps you stay comfortable and keeps your REC electric bill affordable.
The resources available in this area of our website (including a page dedicated to how-to videos) will help you save energy and cut the cost of your electric bill. Get insights into your personal usage patterns from the resources on the Usage Management page. And browse through an extensive list of various tools and resources on the Energy Links page where you'll find valuable tips like these:
- Seal any holes between the house and the attic, such as at the HVAC ceiling registers (look under the register cover), bath fans, attic hatch or pull-down stairs, around recessed light cans and then add attic insulation if needed. Several small holes add up and will let a lot of air move between the house and attic.
- Once you stop the drafts, add Insulation if needed. You should have at least 13” of attic insulation and 6” in the floor above the crawl space.
- Seal ductwork. Only recently have HVAC installers begun to seal the joints in ductwork. Leaky ductwork in attics and crawl spaces is common and this is a major cause of energy loss. Be aware, ductwork wrapped in insulation is not necessarily sealed.
- Service or replace heating and cooling equipment. A low refrigerant charge will often have a significant impact on heat pump system efficiency. HVAC accounts for about 45% of overall household energy use and an inefficient or malfunctioning system will cause excessive energy use.
Have questions about saving energy? E-mail us at energyexpert@myrec.coop.