In the world of energy conservation, the most affordable kilowatt-hours are those that haven’t been used.
HVAC efficiency in your home or commercial building starts with the user mindset of maximizing the available energy.
Heating and cooling systems account for 50% to 60% of energy costs. Improving HVAC efficiency has a significant impact.
Besides installing mini-split HVAC systems, which are 50% more efficient than conventional heating and cooling units, below are other ways of improving HVAC efficiency to conserve energy.
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1. Don’t Ignore Routine Maintenance
The first and easiest way to improve HVAC efficiency is to ensure you don’t ignore routine maintenance and repairs.
Create and adhere to a regular maintenance checklist to ensure your HVAC unit functions perfectly.
If you don’t have a proactive HVAC maintenance schedule, don’t hesitate to schedule semi-annual service with a nearby HVAC company.
HVAC experts can ensure your system operates efficiently and that all components function optimally. Your maintenance checklist should include:
- Auditing the HVAC unit for size and capacity – Your maintenance checklist should regularly audit your HVAC size according to equipment and room additions. Most contractors install incorrectly sized units leading to energy inefficiencies. Installing a small HVAC unit is better than maintaining a large load. Large units use more energy, increase energy bills, and reduce unit longevity
- Clean and change air filters – Filters clogged with air pollutants, such as dust, dirt, pollen, and other contaminants, reduce system efficiency
- Coils should be cleaned to avoid overheating
- Thermostat assessments help detect poorly set temperature ranges. Faulty thermostats should be replaced or repaired immediately
- Check for refrigerant leaks – Refrigerant leaks reduce the unit’s effectiveness and efficiency. If not repaired, leaks in the refrigerant compromise the system’s capacity and can lead to permanent damage
- Check the drain pipes – Blocked condensation connections can lead to leakage and other problems. Leaking water promotes mold and fungal growth around the drain lines
2. Maintain System Boundaries
Maintaining correct HVAC system boundaries by ensuring that the unit heats and cools only the designated spaces significantly improves energy efficiency.
Most heating and cooling boundaries are adjusted according to the season or prevailing environment.
Depending on the season, you may not necessarily cool the garage or loading area.
Open warehouses with open doors and windows also don’t need heating and cooling throughout the year.
An energy audit should give recommendations for new buildings to have clearly defined system boundaries.
Regular audits are also necessary to determine the unit’s effectiveness within these boundaries.
System boundaries determine how HVAC ducting is installed and other components.
3. Check Optimum Temperature Range
Most heating and cooling systems have pre-defined temperature ranges that ensure the unit uses energy efficiently.
Check the manufacturer’s manual or consult your service technician to identify your unit’s energy-efficient temperature range.
Identifying this range helps avoid fluctuating temperatures, which overwork your unit.
According to the U.S Department of Energy, you should keep your HVAC heat settings at 68 degrees and 78 degrees Fahrenheit during winter and summer, respectively.
However, you can adjust the system’s temperature range accordingly if you are not home.
For instance, adjusting temperature settings for unoccupied rooms during the day or night can reduce energy consumption.
4. Upgrade Your Thermostat
Installing a smart or programmable thermostat can significantly improve your unit’s efficiency.
The less your HVAC unit works to maintain indoor temperatures, the more energy it saves.
Besides ensuring the thermostat is installed and positioned correctly, free from detractors, you should upgrade your unit into:
1) Programmable thermostats reduce and increase temperature ranges automatically using a pre-set schedule.
Some programmable thermostats have seven-day programming options, allowing users to customize settings for seven consecutive days.
Others have five-one-one-day, five-two day, and one-week programs.
2) Unlike programmable thermostats, temperature ranges can be adjusted from a smartphone.
Smart thermostats can learn your lifestyle and adjust HVAC functionality accordingly.
For instance, it can identify and adjust HVAC settings for days you don’t work from home. This makes the unit energy efficient.
5. Insulate Your Home
Insulating your home prevents the loss of conditioned air through various air leaks.
You can improve your HVAC energy efficiency by ensuring that all conditioned air remains indoors.
Consider the following to avoid possible air drifts:
- Shut all your windows and doors
- Caulk immobile parts of windows and doors
- Apply weatherstrips to moving parts of your windows and doors
- Insulate Recessed lighting
- Inspect and seal open drywall gaps or stud cavities
- Inspect loose ductwork and seal with mastic sealant or aluminum tape
Endnote
The importance of heating and cooling units cannot be ignored.
Therefore, ensuring that your home or building is energy efficient requires improving your HVAC’s energy efficiency.
You should also consider upgrading your HVAC unit to improve efficiency, especially if they are more than 10 years old.
Upgrading to Energy-Star rated units can save up to 20% of HVAC bills.
