Energy Tips Checklist

Today I found myself crawling around the attic of homeowners in Alpharetta who have decided to put their home on the market. This home was absolutely pristine! Their attic insulation was incredible. These folks will be conveying their home with tons of energy saving features. My experience today reminded me that most people have not yet embraced the idea of transitioning their home from the old standards to new and improved energy efficiency.

For this reason I share the following check list to make sure your home is using energy efficiently and effectively.

HEATING and AIR CONDITIONING
* Have your A/C units serviced annually
* Check your air filters monthly and change them as needed
* Set your thermostat on 78 degrees in the summer
* Set your thermostat on 68 degrees in the winter
* Keep heat and a/c supply vents, registers and returns free and clear of obstructions
* Use setback thermostats or manually set the temperature back to control your heat and air when the home is unoccupied or when you are sleeping
* Keep the area around your air conditioner's outside units clean and free of dirt and leaves.

INSULATION
* Attic insulation should equal R-30 or greater
* Keep attic insulation uncompressed. Limit flooring and storage in attics
* Walls and ceilings in unconditioned above-grade spaces should be insulated. Recommended insulation levels are:
R-13 -- Walls
R-19 -- Ceilings
R-30 -- Attic

* Attic stairs should be covered with R-30 boxes and the edges sealed with weather strip.
* Continuous ridge roof vents and unobstructed soffit vents provide good attic ventilation
* Seal all pipes and wires entering the house from the outside or from unconditioned spaces with rigid aerosol foam

ALL AROUND THE HOUSE
* Keep your water heater set to 120 degrees
* Use full loads in dishwashers, washers and dryers for best efficiency
* Use the air or economy dry setting for drying dishes in the dishwasher
* Clean dryer link filter with each load
* Extra refrigerators and freezers consume extra energy and cost money
* Fluorescent and halogen lighting is more efficient than incandescent bulbs

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia and works in the Atlanta metro area. Call Sara with your many questions regarding the Atlanta metro real estate market in general or specifics regarding the buying / selling process. Sara can be easily reached at anytime at 770-399-8108 or e-mail her at sara@sarahibbard.com. Sara Hibbard is looking forward to assisting you too with all your real estate needs when the time is right for you. I'm Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!