There is nothing better than taking an old house, putting in hard work, and transforming it into a beautiful home. There are many wonderful things about owning an older home, but dealing with expensive heating and cooling bills is not one of them. Here are some tricks for saving energy and money in your older, Gretna, LA home.
Trick #1: Insulation & Energy Audits
First, think about insulation. Improving insulation in an older home can be quite a challenge. Since building codes and practices have changed over time, it can be difficult to know where your home is lacking insulation. Consider scheduling a home energy audit, so you can use accurate information to decide where to add insulation to your home. Insulating your older home will probably be a multiple step process; you might replace old windows with newer, more efficient ones, and you might add insulation where it is needed, such as in the attic.
Trick #2: SEER Ratings
Now turn to your HVAC system. Currently, the minimum SEER requirement for air conditioners (effective soon in 2023) is SEER 14. If your home was built before 1980, for example, and your home is still equipped with the original air conditioner, the SEER rating for your unit could be SEER 6 or lower. The difference between SEER 6 and SEER 14, or possibly an even higher SEER rating, depending on what you choose for your AC replacement, represents a significant difference in energy use. If you are still operating the original air conditioning unit in your older home, it is time to consider an AC replacement for your Gretna, LA home.
Trick #3: Develop an Energy Saving Strategy with Expert Help
The experts at Bryans United Heating and Air Conditioning can help you decide which changes would benefit you the most, based on the age and condition of your current HVAC system, and the characteristics of your home. If you decide to go ahead with an AC replacement, we can help you pick a unit that will save energy and money, and remain in your price point.
Older homes are unique, and your energy saving strategy should be unique as well. Bryans United Heating and Air Conditioning can help you make a plan and implement the best energy saving measures, whether you choose an AC replacement, a complete HVAC system upgrade, insulation, or a combination of changes.
*Originally Published in 2012; Refreshed in 2021*
Image via wikimedia commons
