Although alternative energy resources are springing up everywhere for eventual use by your utility company, the Department of Environmental Quality in Montana recommends that Montana residents begin conserving energy now, in their own homes. Doing so will not only help the environment by conserving resources, but will save residents money on utility bills in the long run. Montana residents need only to invest a little bit of money initially to save in the future.
When preparing your home for energy savings, it's important to know where your energy resources are being spent. The idea is that if you know where your money is going, it will be easier to save it since the amount of energy you use is the amount of money you spend. In Montana, heating a home is often a good portion of residents' heating bills. In fact, heating systems use more energy resources than any other appliance or system in the average Montana home.
Usually 49 percent of utilities costs are from residents' heating systems alone. An easy way to save money on this part of your utilities bill is to simply upgrade your equipment, and to maintain it correctly.
Heating systems are mechanical and need maintenance regularly in order to keep costs and energy use down. This could mean that you should schedule a yearly appointment with a heating contractor for maintenance, or a sort of tune-up - much like that of a car. A contractor can easily verify whether your heating system is performing at its peak efficiency, and whether it is still safe to use. Maintenance of your heating system also allows you fix problems early, before they become too costly to manage.
If you are in the market for a new heating system, select one that is energy-efficient. Your contractor is a good resource when it comes to selecting a new heating system; he or she should be able to give you information on different makes and models and their energy outputs. In this way, you can compare the resources on energy usage and come to a logical decision on which heating system is right for your home.
High Annual Fuel Utilization (AFUE) ratings are good to look for when buying a furnace. AFUE is a thermal efficiency measure of combustion equipment; this measurement attempts to estimate the season-long average of a piece of equipment's efficiency. The national AFUE minimum is 78 percent, but there are some models, such as that of ENERGY STAR, that have more than 90 percent AFUE. Montana has an energy conservation credit of 25 percent, and some of these ENERGY STAR furnace models qualify for it.
Another helpful tool in the quest to save money on heating resources is an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat. The purpose of this tool is to turn down the heat during the weekdays and at nights automatically - in this way you are not paying to heat your home when no one is there. These are inexpensive and easy to install, and you can also program in your own unique work schedule. These also qualify for the 25 percent energy conservation tax credit.
Gretchen Vuvalgee shares info on water damage and fire damage document issues. For more info go to:
http://www.localrestorations.com/Montana
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