Ross and Witmer Every homeowner has beliefs about what saves energy and what doesn’t. Often times, the most common home energy myths originated as truths, even if the energy savings were minimal. What beliefs are true and which ones are false? We break down four of the most common home energy myths and let you know how to truly save energy.
Common Home Energy Myths
Common Home Energy Myths- Myth: Efficient appliances automatically lower energy costs.
Although investing in a more energy efficient air conditioner or furnace can help lower energy costs, it only works if the new equipment is properly sized and installed. When an air conditioner or furnace receives improper installation, it wastes energy. To achieve optimal savings from energy efficient HVAC units and other upgrades, their design must fulfill the needs of the house. - Myth: Adjusting the thermostat equals immediate relief.
When you’re cold or hot, you want instant comfort, and cranking the thermostat to do so is a common response. Adjusting the thermostat eventually changes the temperature in the house, but the same amount of heat or cold comes out whether you adjust the temperature 1 degree or 20 degrees. Cranking the thermostat does not make the equipment respond faster. - Myth: Leaving appliances on instead of powering them down uses less energy.
The idea that it’s more energy efficient to leave computers, lights and small appliances powered up instead of turning them off is incorrect. It only takes a small surge of power to turn these devices on, whereas leaving them on uses a greater amount of energy. Older appliances that still cycle continually might have reduced lifetimes, but modern appliances are better designed to save energy and last longer. - Myth: Energy efficient products increase the first cost of houses.
Energy efficient products and materials are sometimes a higher initial investment than their less efficient counterparts are, but that often has more to do with them being premium products and materials. The cost of a new appliance such as a refrigerator has more to do with the size of the unit than its energy efficiency. A smaller, more efficient HVAC system can actually result in lower first cost than a larger, inefficient system.
Let Ross & Witmer disprove other home energy myths you may be falling for, or contact us today at 704-392-6188 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced HVAC technicians!