Where I live, the weather has suddenly changed–the last couple nights have been in the 30’s. So, as much as I’d like to postpone the use of our furnace, the time has come to turn it on. This is the primary heat source for our home. We also have an electric fireplace in our basement and a gas fireplace in our master bedroom (which we rarely turn on because our room is above our kitchen and since heat rises, our bedroom never seems to get cold).
Unfortunately, in our home, we are still reliant on conventional power generated from fossil fuels and are not yet using green power generated from renewable resources like water, wind or solar energy (which are all better for the environment). After doing a little investigation, I’ve found some green suggestions to save money and reduce our carbon footprint (based on our CO2 emissions) while still using our conventional furnace.
According to GreenerChoices.org, here are some steps to take:
1. Seal and insulate our duct system: sealing the ducts in our home and insulating any portions that pass through unconditioned spaces, such as the attic, basement, or garage, can reduce CO2 emissions and our heating (and cooling) costs by up to 40 percent.
2. Control heating temperatures: For every degree we lower our thermostat, we can cut energy use by about 3 percent. Turning down our thermostat by a constant 1 degree can save up to 240 pounds of CO2 annually. By lowering the heat by 5 degrees for 8 hours at night and 10 degrees for 8 hours during the day, we can save about 3,150 pounds of CO2 annually.
3. Use a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat can help us cut energy costs as much as 20 percent by automatically raising or lowering temperatures at night and when we’re away. Choosing a model that is easy to program is an important consideration. Using a programmable thermostat can save us about $100 annually.
4. We need to make sure that we are not losing our heat unnecessarily so we need to check windows and doors to make sure everything is sealed tightly. Foam stripping (which is very inexpensive) and caulking can help cut our heating bills by 5 to 30 percent!
5. We need to change our furnace filter at the beginning of the heating season and at least once during the winter. According to energyhog.org, we should check our filters monthly and change them whenever they look dirty. A dirty filter causes the heating or cooling system to work harder (using more energy) to push air through to heat or cool your home. Clean filters will extend the life of our heater.
6. Our furnace is still in good working order; however, when the time comes to replace it, it will be important to get the most efficient equipment possible or one that has the ENERGY STAR® label. Our home is already insulated, but if by the time we need to purchase a new furnace, we’ve added any insulation to our home, installed new windows, or made any other energy improvements, we may be able to get a smaller sized heating or cooling unit, and smaller units use less energy, and cost less to operate.
7. A conventional fireplace (which we do not have) draws a small gale out of the room and sends it up the chimney. When the indoor air has been warmed by the central heating system, that means our energy dollars are going up the chimney too. So, if you have a conventional fireplace, consider a direct-vent, sealed-combustion gas fireplace. Consumer Reports has found that those units have an energy efficiency of about 70 percent.
DID YOU KNOW…
One of the most effective ways to reduce CO2 emissions is to decrease the proportion of electricity generated from fossil fuels. Currently, about 70 percent of America’s electricity comes from fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil, which release significant quantities of CO2.
The level of CO2 has gone from about 280 parts per million (where it was before the industrial era began) to more than 350 parts per million today and is increasing quickly.
According to recent government estimates, an individual’s carbon footprint is about 22,000 pounds (11 tons) on average each year! That amount will vary depending on where you live and your particular lifestyle.
Personal activity–as opposed to industrial activity–accounts for more than 30% of all CO2 emissions in the U.S. (that’s you and me)!
FOR TODAY… I will make sure we do the following: change our furnace filter as we start into the heating season and check our filter monthly to see when it needs to be replaced, check that all windows and doors are sealed adequately, and program our thermostat so that the temperature is lowered at night by 8-10 degrees and during certain hours of each day by 5-10 degrees.
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