As Earth Day comes up, it’s the right time of year to start planning how you can make your homes greener and more efficient. There are lots of great options, and having so many possible solutions ensures there’s one that fits every budget. Investing in high-efficiency HVAC systems not only benefits the environment but also contributes to cost savings and a more sustainable lifestyle.

1. Schedule a Home Energy Audit: The best way to start your journey to an eco-friendly HVAC system is to book a professional home energy audit. As part of the audit, local HVAC experts assess your home’s energy usage and identify any inefficiencies. They’ll take what they find and discuss things with you before suggesting improvements. This comprehensive evaluation helps you understand precisely where energy is wasted and how any recommended improvements can provide lasting benefits.
2. Adding More Insulation Can Boost Home Energy Efficiency: Proper insulation is an essential, and maybe underrated option for full-spectrum comfort while also addressing things causing excessive energy use. Insulation strengthens your home’s temperature barrier, preventing heat loss in the winter and holding cool air indoors during the summer.
   Unfortunately, most homes could use more insulation. Incorporating additional insulation to attics, walls, floors, and basements is the usual strategy. Using high-quality insulation materials like fiberglass, spray foam or cellulose can greatly boost energy efficiency for lower heating and cooling costs.
3. Seal and Insulate Your Ductwork to Prevent Energy Loss: Damage to the home’s ductwork is an often overlooked source of energy waste that can lead to reduced HVAC system efficiency, despite having high-efficiency equipment. To mitigate these losses and reduce any wasted energy, homeowners should have a technician check ductwork for leaks and seal any gaps or cracks as securely as possible.
   As another benefit, insulating the ductwork in spaces such as attics or crawl spaces reduces heat transfer into them. Sealing off these inefficient parts of your home is a great example of how a little effort can go a long way.
4. Trying a Smart Thermostat: Investing in a programmable thermostat, and especially a smart thermostat, allows homeowners to personalize their heating and cooling schedules according to their daily routines and preferences. By automatically adjusting these temperature settings in response to your usage habits, these thermostats also optimize energy costs and minimize waste. Smart thermostats also provide benefits like remote access via mobile devices or providing helpful notifications for things like maintenance.
5. Stay on Top of Routine HVAC Maintenance: In fact, regular HVAC maintenance is an essential investment you can make for optimal system performance and energy efficiency. Homeowners should schedule routine tune-ups with local professionals, who can carry out inspections, filter changes, and other tasks to make sure their HVAC systems run smoothly.
   By addressing repair issues more quickly and keeping internal clean, your technician will help support your HVAC system and may even prolong its life span.
6. Leverage Zoning Systems and Fan Settings for Enhanced Ventilation: Zoning systems and fan settings offer homeowners greater control over their HVAC systems and indoor air quality. Zoning creates different areas of the home to be heated or cooled independently, improving comfort and energy usage. And to support the zoning system’s airflow, even adjusting fan settings can help maintain consistent temperatures in your home while reducing the actual wear and tear on the HVAC system.
7. Think About Upgrading to a New, High-Efficiency HVAC System: For homeowners ready to take the next step, installing a new, high-efficiency HVAC system is an excellent option. The newest HVAC systems utilize variable-speed motors, heat pump technology, and other innovations to offer superior performance while requiring less energy.