Things You'll Need:
- Forced Air HVAC System
- A little Common Sense
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Step 1
Know thy buttons. Even without a programmable thermostat you can save energy by correctly using the system fan. Most forced air systems have an "On / Auto" button. This changes the blower in the system between always on and only on when they thermostat demands heat or cooling.
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Step 2
Use the already cooled air first. In the summer keep the system fan set to "On." This will get the cooler air in the lower parts of your house up and moving and even out the temperature in your house and the system will not run the compressor as much. The HVAC industry stays that it will cost you about 50 cents a day to run this fan, but you will save 1 to 2 dollars a day by the compressor not running a frequently. Also moving air will feel cooler and you will not be as tempted to drop the temperature as much.
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Step 3
Remember the wind chill in the winter. The opposite of step 6 holds for the winter. While it will even the temperature throughout the home to keep the system fan set to "on" during the winter, it will feel cooler because the air will be moving more. You will then be tempted to bump the temperature up and thereby cost you more.
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Step 4
When to ignore step 4. Remember that already cooled air in the summer that you want to spread around, well spread the already heated air around in the winter too. If your kitchen heats up from cooking, spread that heat around with the system fan. You paid for it, you might as well use it. If you have a lot of windows in your house that heat up a room with the winter sun, spread that around too.
