Benchmark Air Conditioning & Heating - Sales, Service & Installation. North Dallas and Collin County. Preventative Maintenance and Repairs. Frisco, Texas. Energy Conservation Tips

****JavaScript based drop down DHTML menu generated by NavStudio. (OpenCube Inc. - http://www.opencube.com)****

Energy Conservation Tips

As home owners ourselves, at Benchmark Air Conditioning & Heating we too realize constant demand for energy conservation. In a continual effort for customer service excellence we have turned to the experts at The United States Department off Energy for their tips and energy conservation advice that we can provide to our customer. Below you will find some valuable tips that you and your family can do to help save on your utility expenses. If you have any questions or we can assist you in any way, please contact Benchmark Air Conditioning & Heating at 972-377-9724. For your convenience, you may also request services from this site.

Heating & Cooling:

Heating and cooling your home accounts for approximately 56% of the energy use in your home. This percentage makes heating and cooling the largest energy expense for most homes. At Benchmark Air Conditioning & Heating we can offer you a variety of high efficiency HVAC systems components that will provide you with real savings on your heating and cooling bills.

Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed. Also, make sure they are not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

Clean and replace filters on your heating and cooling system once a month or as needed.

Be sure to use fans during the summer to create a wind chill effect that will make your home more comfortable. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F without compromising comfort.

Turn off kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing to retain heated air.

Consider installing a programmable thermostat that can be adjusted according to your schedule.
ENERGY STAR® labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30%.

Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes to prevent heat loss.

Insulate heating ducts in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss of up to 60% at the registers.

Heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill. Make sure your furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. Benchmark Air Conditioning & Heating provides preventative maintenance programs to ensure the maximum efficiency of your system year-round. Please contact our office at 972-377-9724 to schedule your next visit.

Insulation & Air Sealing:

You can reduce your home's heating and cooling costs by as much as 30% with adequate insulation. These techniques will also increase the comfort levels of your home.

Remember that new windows must be installed correctly to avoid air leaks around the frame. In Texas where we have with both heating and cooling seasons, select windows with both low U-values and low solar heat gain co efficiency (SHGC) to maximize energy benefits. Remember, the lower the U-value, the better the insulation. A U-value of 0.35 or below is recommended for the cold Texas months. These windows have at least double glazing and a low-e coating. Installing new, high-performance windows will improve your home's energy performance.

Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce the effects of the direct sun.

Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.

Storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. Storm windows should have weather stripping at all moveable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.

Close your curtains and shades at night and open them during the day.

Consider installing tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

Have an energy audit conducted on your home to find air leaks and to check for the proper level of insulation. Common sources of air leaks include cracks around windows and doors, gaps along baseboard, mail chutes, cracks in brick, siding, stucco or foundation, or where any external lines (phone, cable, electric, and gas) enter the home.

You can test for air leaks on your own, on a windy day by holding a lit candle next to windows, doors, electrical outlets, or light fixtures to test for leaks.

Be sure to plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping to save 10% or more on your energy bill.

Be sure to close fireplace dampers when not in use. A chimney is designed for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes.

Appliances & Electronics:

Your appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20% of your energy bills. These appliances and electronics include everything from clothes washers and dryers, to computers, to water heaters. By shopping for appliances with the ENERGY STAR® label, you can achieve real savings in your monthly energy bill.

Try air drying dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
Be sure to clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
Consider air drying clothes on clothes lines.
Consider buying a laptop when you buy your next computer. Your new laptop will use less energy.
Do not over-dry your clothes.
Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from the lighter weight clothes.
Use power strips for home electronics.
Turn off computers when not in use.

Water Heating:

Water heating can account for 14%–25% of the energy consumed in your home. You can reduce your monthly water heating bills by selecting a water heater for your home or pool and by using some energy-efficient water heating strategies.

Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
Take short showers instead of baths.
Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.
A solar water heater may provide tax credits or rebates
Consider a heat pump water heater.
Buy a new energy-efficient water heater.
If you are heating a swimming pool, consider a swimming pool cover.

Landscaping:

A well-designed landscape not only adds beauty to your home but it also reduces your heating and cooling costs. Typically, landscaping for energy efficiency provides enough energy savings in return in less than 8 years. If you were already planning to landscape, these tips provide ways to beautify your home while saving on your monthly energy bill.

Plant trees to shade your home, reducing your cooling costs in the summer months. Typically, newly planted trees will begin shading windows in their first year and will reach your roof within 5-10 years.

Planting shrubs, bushes, and vines next to your house creates dead air spaces that insulate your home in both winter and summer.

During the winter months, dense, low-lying trees and shrubbery on the north and northeast sides of your home can help protect your home against wind chill.

Each of use at Benchmark Air Conditioning & Heating hope that you find these tips helpful and that you take advantage of some of these money-saving ideas. If you have any questions or we can assist you in any way, please contact us at 972-377-9724. For your convenience, you may also request services from this site.

Thank you for your interest in Benchmark Air Conditioning & Heating, we look forward to serving you soon!

972-377-9724

Bonded & Insured