Monthly Archives: November 2015

How Can I Reduce My Energy Costs In The Winter?

How Can I Reduce My Energy Costs In The WinterWhen winter sets in and temperatures start to drop, you can expect your heating bill will go up

However, there are various ways you can reduce the cost of electricity without necessarily having to sacrifice on comfort.

Make sure to follow these tips to help you and your family reduce energy costs in the winter.

Ways To Reduce Energy Costs In The Winter

Here are some effective ways you can control your winter energy costs.

Unplug Electronics When Not In Use

For instance, turning off electronics when they are not in use will ensure less electricity goes to waste. You should need to note that even when these items are turned off, they still drain electricity. Idle gadgets will still slowly suck electricity, increasing energy bills. A good way to go about this would be to unplug gadgets such as computers and TV sets from their outlets to ensure no electricity goes to waste.

If you don’t want to sacrifice the convenience of having your gadgets ready to go when you need them, then you can always invest in power switches which will give better control over your electronics.

Seal House Leaks

Sealing gaps around window’s, door’s and duct’s to prevent heat loss is a common winter fix that helps lower energy bills.

Lower Usage During Peak Hours It is very common for most electric companies to raise prices by up to 60% during peak hours, which is usually between 3 and 7pm and/or 6am and 10am. Limiting usage of electronics during these hours can help you control electric bills. For example, doing your laundry or operating the oven during off-peak hours helps you save. Note, that different electric companies have varying definitions of peak hours and it would be best to find this out from the company itself.

Invest In Energy-Saving Devices

Energy-saving gadgets such as Energy Star appliances will not only help you keep electric bills low, but can also qualify you for rebates, saving you even more money.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can lower the cost of electricity during winter. All you need to do is look around your home or business and determine what changes need to be done.

Check Out Our Other Money Saving Posts

2nd Generation Nest Smart Thermostat Now Manages More Heating & Cooling Stages

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2nd Gen Nest Smart Thermostat Now Manages More Stages-BrucesAC.comHVAC technologies have come a long way over the years with continuous innovations moving the industry forward. Thermostats are no longer only a way to merely adjust your temperature setting.

Now they are sophisticated components that can sense the environment and learn from the data gathered. These smart circuits use different algorithms to fine-tune its response to various conditions.

A good example is the Nest Smart Thermostat which is now in its 2nd generation. Nest is a trusted name when it comes to smart thermostats. This new product reinforces its status as a leader in innovation. Let’s take a closer look at this device.

The 2nd Generation Nests’ Improved Capabilities

The latest Smart Thermostat from Nest is able to provide support for as much as three stages of heating and two stages of cooling if attached to conventional models, as compared to the two heating and one cooling for the 1st generation.

It also has the capacity to support 2 stages each for both cooling and heating when paired with heat pumps. These give it better ability to control the outcome and the speed at which the goal is attained. Its decision-making process is guided by algorithms that help come up with the approximate period required to attain the desired temperature. This feature is aptly called Time-to-Temperature, a vital metric when trying to get the timing right for stage activations.

The device will first try to make an estimate of the Time-to-Temperature and then evaluate whether this is a reasonable waiting period. In case it concludes that things are taking too long, then it will begin to activate the next stage of the HVAC system to hasten the process. If the first stage is inadequate, then the thermostat will induce stage two to come to life. If stage two is unable to meet the goal, then stage three will be tapped for assistance.

The aim of such a system is to make certain that those inside the premises are always kept comfortable. The active stage will always be displayed prominently to make the user aware of the situation and react accordingly.

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