Monthly Archives: January 2015

Savings are Hidden In Your Utility Bill

Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. Energy SavingKeeping an energy efficient home is no easy feat, but it doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Have a look at your utility bill and follow these five common sense tips to make your home more efficient and cost effective.

Update Your Heating and Cooling System

How long has it been since you installed your last HVAC system? If the answer is 10 years or more, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Today’s HVAC systems are more energy efficient than ever before, offering a tremendous savings over older systems. For example, you can save money (as much as 20 percent) on cooling costs by replacing an old air conditioning with a brand-new model.

Change Those Light Bulbs

If you haven’t swapped out incandescent bulbs in your home for newer and more energy-efficient bulbs, you’re missing out on the savings. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can help trim lighting costs by half. Switching to newer LED bulbs offer even more savings, plus you’ll get greater longevity from them.

Say Goodbye to Old Appliances

If you think old light bulbs can suck down energy, just wait until you see what old appliances can do. Switching your old standard appliance with an Energy Star-labeled appliance can help you save money each year on energy costs. Some Energy Star appliances are even eligible for tax credits from your state or federal government.

Beef Up Insulation

Poor insulation leads to drafty houses, which leads to bigger heating and cooling bills. Unfortunately, many homes are short on insulation. Inspecting and fortifying your insulation can help lower energy costs over the long run.

Keep Up With Regular Maintenance

Maintenance is the key to affordable operation in an energy efficient home. Seasonal maintenance can help keep your home in excellent shape while catching potential problems before they spiral into expensive ones.

For more advice on saving money and creating a more energy efficient home, call us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. We’ve proudly served the Mobile and Baldwin counties since 1964.

A Professional Energy Audit Can Save Energy and Money

Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. and HeatingMany homeowners are concerned about high utility bills, especially during the heating season. There are many ways to make your home more efficient and lower energy costs, but even small improvements can seem intimidating if you haven’t had much experience. With energy audits, you can make a small investment to let a professional do a lot of the work for you, then get specific instructions for follow-up tasks.

What the Energy Audit Involves

Once you’ve scheduled a professional energy audit, a certified inspector will arrive at your home prepared to conduct a thorough walk-though of the house. The attic, the basement and even unused rooms will be on the list, so make sure the entire house is accessible. While inspecting the house, the auditor will look for leaks or gaps in insulation that might be wasting energy.

Bills and Electricity Use

Be prepared to show the auditor what you have paid for your utilies over several months, as these can show inconsistencies or even major issues. The auditor may also use a wattage meter to directly examine the amount of energy used by your major household appliances and electronics.

Energy Evaluation Tools

Some of the tools used by the energy auditor might seem futuristic and unfamiliar. Thermographic cameras are a popular and extremely useful tool, as they read temperature, making it easier to find otherwise invisible gaps in insulation. Your auditor will also likely use a blower door test, which will cause a temporary change in air pressure inside the home in order to locate leaks.

Analysis and To-Do List

Once the energy audit is complete, you’ll receive an analysis of your home, along with suggestions for improving your home’s overall energy efficiency. For the audit to be beneficial, it’s important that you follow the advice and make needed improvements as soon as possible.

Contact Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. for more advice on improving your Mobile home’s energy efficiency with a professional energy audit. We’ve been serving southern Alabama since 1964.