Tag: energy efficient

7 Ways to be Eco-Friendlier at Home

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ways to be eco-friendlier at home

If you’re trying to figure out ways to become eco-friendlier and energy-efficient at home, good for you! Becoming eco-friendly is not only good for you and your energy bill but for the world that we live in. Here are some tips from the pros at Roman Home Services to help you start your journey to being more environmentally friendly!

1. Check for Leaks

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household water leaks can lead to 10,000 gallons of water lost per year—that’s a lot of water going to waste. Most of the time these leaks are easy to point out and fix. So if you want to start being more environmentally friendly, start of by dusting off your toolbox and get to work troubleshooting these leaks. They are most commonly found in your toilet, faucet, showerhead and dishwasher.

2. Change Your Air Filter

If you want to save up on your heating and cooling bills while performing maintenance on your HVAC unit then you should change your air filter! Doing this once or twice a month can improve your indoor air quality, prevent your AC from working overtime and reduce your unit’s energy consumption by 5 to 15%!

3. Use LED Bulbs

If you want to save up on your electricity bill, start off by replacing your incandescent bulbs with LEDs! These lights last 25 times longer and use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They are also incredibly versatile, don’t radiate heat and can be compatible with dimmer switches.

4. Switch Outdoor Lights to Solar

Going solar has a lot of benefits, but the greatest one is the burden it takes off your energy bills! Start replacing your outdoor lights with solar lights. They are generally easy to install and can simply be staked into the ground.

5. Ensure You Have Insulation

Insulating your home, specifically in places like your attic, crawlspaces, walls and ceilings can reduce your heating and cooling bills by 20% and overall energy costs by 10%. Sealing up your home can prevent significant energy loss and prevents your HVAC unit from working overtime to provide the cooling or heating that you need.

6. Fix Air Leaks

Air leaks are most commonly found around doors and underneath windows and are usually caused by worn out weatherstripping. If you notice your doors and windows are not properly sealed, be sure to replace old weatherstripping materials with new ones from your nearest home improvement store!

7. Take Shorter Showers

Cutting your showers short can reduce water and time wastage. In addition to taking shorter showers, consider replacing your showerhead with a WaterSense labelled one. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, by simply replacing one showerhead the average family can save 2,900 gallons of water every year.

Want more tips on how you can eco-friendly at home? Get in touch with the pros at Roman Home Services! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service online!

4 Alternatives to Using Air Conditioning

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alternatives to using air conditioning

While air conditioners may be the most effective way to beat the heat during the Milwaukee summer, they do drive up the energy bill a considerable amount, especially considering they account for almost half of your home’s energy consumption. Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to cool down during the hot season, most of which don’t use nearly as much energy as the AC. And if you’re looking to reduce your energy usage without losing the comfort, we recommend you utilize these alternatives to air conditioning.

Roman Home Services has detailed 4 alternatives to using air conditioning that you can have in your Milwaukee home.

Utilize Ceiling Fans

With their energy consumption being only a fraction of what an AC uses, ceiling fans are a great way to cut down energy usage without losing the cooling. This is because ceiling fans don’t produce cooling, they simply distribute it more effectively. The circulating blades also lower your body temperature, making you feel cooler.

We recommend running the ceiling fan on high speed and turning down your AC a few degrees from what it normally is. This provides an alternative to solely using the AC without losing any of the comfort.

If you would like to install a new ceiling fan in your home, contact Roman Home Services for our ceiling fan services.

Block Sunlight in Your Home

If your AC is being constantly used to reduce heat, why let sunlight bring in more heat to your home? One alternative to using your cooling is by simply protecting your home from the heat build-up created by sunlight. Here’s a few steps on how to do this:

  • Cover your windows with lightly-colored draperies such as white or baby blue. These shades better reflect light than other colors.
  • Place weatherstripping along your doors and windows to prevent sunlight seeping through cracks.
  • Consider planting a tree in your yard to act as natural shade.

Make Yourself Feel Colder

While it may not be the most effective solution, simply making yourself feel cooler can sometimes stop you from turning up the AC. Performing steps such as hitting the pool, keeping hydrated, taking cool showers, and wearing summer clothing can help. Although most of these solutions are short-term and temporary, we do recommend incorporating them with other steps on this list.

Purchase Oscillating Fans

Aside from ceiling fans, there’s another type of fan you have in multiple areas of your home: oscillating fans. These plugged-in fans swing from side to side and provide cooling in the same vein as ceiling fans. The great thing about oscillating fans is their low energy usage and cheap cost, as well as their varied sizes and designs.

Help reduce energy usage in your Milwaukee home during the summer by using these 4 alternatives to using the air conditioner. And contact Roman Home Services if you require ceiling fan services. Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to schedule an appointment and get started.