Three Interesting Numbers About Heating and Cooling Systems in the US

Average American homes rely on heating and cooling systems almost more than any other household energy system — but how much do you know about the heating and cooling system in your own home, and how it plays a role in the larger HVAC industry?

10%: The amount of money that you can save on your home heating and cooling systems, both in the winter and in the summer, by doing two simple things: To reduce home cooling costs in the summer, make sure to draw the shades in rooms that get a lot of direct sunlight; to reduce heating costs in the winter, replace your old thermostat with a programmable unit that will automatically turn down the heat in your home when you leave for work or school (and make sure it isn’t located near any drafty windows or doors, too!). A 10% cost reduction might not seem like much, but considering that the average American household pays about $700 per year for heating and cooling costs, that 10% can be a pretty big savings!

21%: The amount of growth that the American heating and cooling industry is expected to see between 2012 and 2022 — largely because of the success of so many renewable energy companies and the variety of home cooling and home heating options that are available — and affordable — for average homeowners. In fact, on average, the industry has been steadily growing about 2.4% each year — something that very few industries experience.

Two months: The amount of time that you should keep the same air filter in your home heating system before changing it with a clean filter — although if you notice that you’re using your HVAC system more than usual, it never hurts to check the filter before two months has passed just to make sure that it isn’t filled with dust and dirt. Not only will a dirty filter make the air in your home feel stale and dry, but it actually makes your home heating system much less efficient because the furnace has to work overtime just to push air through into your house. And a less-efficient home heating system means much higher energy bills in the long run.

Now we’re turning to our readers for some help! Do you happen to know any interesting stats about the heating and cooling industry, or any bits of advice on how to reduce energy bills while still staying comfortable? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section!