Saving Energy Myths and What You Should Do Instead

February 18, 2016

When it comes to household energy conservation, there's a lot of misinformation floating around. However, if you're aware of some of the more common energy-saving myths, the truth will allow you to save energy and money. Here are some of the more common energy-saving myths:

Myth: You'll waste energy if you keep adjusting your thermostat up and down to match your preferences and schedule. Better to just leave the HVAC system operating at the same comfort level all the time.This myth has a splinter of truth to it, in that setting wide temperature variations will waste energy and stress your HVAC system. However, you'll save energy by setting back temperatures of several degrees when the house is empty or occupants are sleeping. Your home doesn't need to be a cozy 70 degrees all day in January if everybody's at work. Use a programmable thermostat to set energy-saving setbacks to match your daily schedule

Myth: You'll consume more energy by turning off lights, computers and household electronics when not in use and turning them on later, than just leaving them on all the time.There's no meaningful energy pull when a light or computer is turned on. Just turn stuff off when you're not using it, and it won't use energy during that time.

Myth: Leaving fans on in an empty room will help keep the room cool for when someone returns to the room.Nope - the cooling effect of a fan is instantaneous. It will feel just as cool right as the fan is turned on as if the fan had been blowing all day.

Myth: Save energy by closing heating and cooling vents in unoccupied rooms.Your HVAC system has been sized to satisfy comfort requirements in your entire house, not just part of it. Its efficiency and performance will be adversely impacted if you close off more than one or two small rooms.

For the true facts about energy-saving myths in your Des Moines home, please contact us at Lozier Heating & Cooling.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: "Ribah/Shutterstock"