When it comes to efficiency, there are two different approaches.
One approach is to buy a top-of-the-line HVAC system with the highest efficiency ratings. These devices were constructed to use the least amount of energy while providing the most benefits.
The second approach is to create an environment that encourages efficiency, by giving your home certain upgrades and services.
In this post, we’ll go over how combining solar HVAC systems with efficiency-upgrade services can give you the best return on your investment.
Solar HVAC Benefits
First, let’s go over what makes a solar HVAC system worth buying. We do want to warn you that installing a solar energy system isn’t going to be cheap. However, solar technology has gotten better over the years, to the point that monthly operational costs are growing lower and lower. They’ve become a good system for homeowners to test the benefits of solar energy before making a full transition.
Some of the other tangible benefits include:
- Low-Cost: Solar energy will give you plenty of free energy from the sun. In the event that you use more energy than the system can generate, however, you can still use electricity from the grid to give you that power. Either way, it will bring a substantial reduction in your energy bills.
- Rebates and Incentives: California offers some of the best tax credit incentives in the nation for solar energy. Speak with an expert on solar energy in Sacramento, CA to learn more of the details.
- Low Maintenance: The heating and cooling parts of your HVAC system will need maintenance as usual, but you can almost forget about the solar panels themselves. They won’t require much attention, and they’ll even be washed by the rain.
While the efficiency of solar energy was questioned in the past, those days are gone now that more and more homeowners are going solar.
Air and Duct Sealing
After upgrading your system to solar, you’ll want to do everything you can to retain as much of your solar energy as possible. While you could be as strict as possible and limit yourself on how often you use it, that’s not always best for comfort. You can compromise a little bit by creating a more efficient environment for your home.
Air Sealing
The goal of air sealing is to remove any big leaks where outside air can come in. Imagine trying to heat your home at night to find out that several gaps in your home are inviting drafts of cold air. Not only is this uncomfortable, it reduces your efficiency by forcing your HVAC system to operate longer.
Air sealing your home involves finding those areas and insulating them with caulk or weather stripping.
Duct Sealing
Duct sealing is similar, but it all occurs in the ducts. The ducts are what transport your newly heated or cooled air through your home; a leak in the ductwork will suck up that energy. As much as 30% can be lost through these leaks!
Depending on the kind of ducts in your home, an HVAC tech will use various sealants or possibly replace old, worn-out ducts to restore your efficiency.