Heating and Cooling Tips to Help Lower Energy Usage

With the extreme winter months here in Rhode Island, many homeowners are looking for a smarter way to stay comfortable while cutting back on energy usage and taking control of their utility bills.

Rhode Island Energy can be a partner to help your home become more energy efficient by requesting a no cost Home Energy Assessment. An Energy Specialist will come to your home and offer a variety of potential energy saving tips and upgrades tailored to your house.

Some of those personalized recommendations will likely focus on heating and cooling—the number one source of energy usage in most homes. Whether it is your furnace, boiler, heat pump, water heater or insulation, they’ll provide guidance to help your home stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer in the most energy efficient way possible.

David took advantage of the program to transform his home in Woonsocket into a model of modern electrification, most recently with a cold-climate heat pump, heat pump water heater, EV charger, electrical panel, and upgraded insulation—all supported through Rhode Island Energy programs and rebates.

“The heat pump is so important to this whole electrification project,” David said. “It’s a lot more comfortable and maintains the temperature in the house a lot better versus our old furnace. The house is constantly at the right temperature.”

The heat pump investment is paying off, saving David roughly $40 a month or $480 a year on energy costs compared to his previous gas and electric bills.

Thanks to insulation and air sealing upgrades, David is saving an additional $343 a year on energy bills. Home performance contractors installed an 8″ layer of cellulose insulation to 890 square feet of attic space. Air sealing closed gaps and holes in the attic, unfinished basement, and plumbing and wiring access points.

During your Home Energy Assessment, the Energy Specialist will also install products at no cost such as low-flow  shower heads, faucet aerators, advanced power strips, and programmable thermostats—easy solutions that can pay immediate dividends on energy savings. These products can also be found at discounted prices at the Rhode Island Energy Marketplace.

Here are three other affordable heating and cooling tips you can take to help reduce your home’s energy usage immediately:

1.Insulate your water heater. A water heater blanket can cost about $20 to $40 and can save you 7 to 16 percent in water heating costs according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Insulate hot water pipes. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this simple action reduces heat loss and can raise the water temperature 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit, conserving water and allowing you to lower your water temperature setting on your water heater.

3. Invest in air sealing and insulation. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save about 15 percent on heating and cooling costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics. Insulation is an effective way to enhance home comfort because it makes it harder for the heat to escape in the winter. It also can keep a home cooler in the summer and prevent condensation which later can result in mold or moisture issues. Rhode Island Energy customers may be eligible for up to $10,000 off insulation plus no cost air sealing of leaks in drafty areas of your home. For example, David’s project would have cost him $2,551 – but all the work was completed at no cost to him!

By taking advantage of a no cost Home Energy Assessment and implementing these simple heating and cooling energy efficiency savings tips, Rhode Islanders can see big savings in monthly utility bills. To learn more about improving overall energy efficiency with heating and cooling, visit www.rienergy.com/save.