Home Insurance in New Bedford: Cut Energy Costs & Consumption
A study conducted by the US Department of Energy revealed that more than 50 percent of the typical residential utility bill has to do with heating and cooling costs. Learning how to take control over the thermostat can help homeowners to cut energy costs and consumption to create a more eco-friendly household. Some of the upgrades, repairs, and changes that you make might even positively impact your New Bedford homeowners insurance. Make sure to contact your insurance agency in New Bedford to find out if your remodeling and renovation projects can help save you money on your MA home insurance policy. Borden Insurance specializes in providing quality auto and home insurance in New Bedford for our clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.
Programmable Thermostats
One way to reduce costs associated with energy use and consumption is to install a programmable thermostat. These high-tech wonders can help you remember to stick to your limits for heating and cooling. Simple to install and operate, some of these products will even “learn” your living patterns and program themselves. Homeowners can also operate programmable thermostats wirelessly and remotely by using apps on their smartphones and tablets. Studies show that just by adjusting your thermostat by one or two degrees, you can reduce your energy bill for heating and cooling by a noticeable amount. If you upgrade any part of your HVAC system or add smart tech to your home, contact your agent about home insurance in New Bedford to ensure that your MA home insurance policy is up-to-date. Depending on the upgrade, you might even be able to reduce your premium for New Bedford homeowners insurance.
The Power of Ceiling Fans
People who live in Southern states know full well the power of the ceiling fan. Installed in nearly every room of the house, ceiling fans can help to move the air to help you feel cooler during the summer. In the winter, ceiling fans can be reversed to push down the heat that naturally rises to help you feel warmer when the temperature drops outside. Energy Star rated ceiling fans can be used to help reduce costs and energy consumption associated with heating and cooling, saving you money each year. While some can install a ceiling fan as a DIY (do-it-yourself) weekend project, others might be more likely to hire an electrician or licensed and insured handyman to do it for them. The more you can do to protect your home by vetting and checking out contractors before they do any work for you, the more confidence you will feel about the project, and the more recourse you will have if something goes wrong.
Thermal Envelope
One of the best ways to protect your home from outdoor temperatures is to hire a professional to do a thermal inspection of your insulation, windows, doors, and other access points to the outside. Insulation can help to keep hot temperatures out in the summer and ensure that heated air stays inside during the winter. An insulation inspection will check everything from the attic to the basement, the exterior walls and all windows, doors, and utility points throughout your home. Studies show that the average American home, regardless of age, has a total of openings that are not properly insulated that add up to approximately two square feet. This is like leaving a window open while continuing to try and heat or cool your home. Caulking, weather stripping, and other methods of gap sealing should also be performed in addition to increasing, upgrading, or replacing existing insulation. Even a home that is just ten years old or newer likely has areas that would benefit from making improvements to the overall thermal envelope of the structure.
Energy-Efficient Windows
A home that has single-pane windows has an instant leak point where cold and heat can become quickly displaced. While window insulation can be helpful if you can upgrade and replace your windows and glass-paned doors with double- or triple-pane windows that have a high Energy Star rating, you might be able to save even more on your utility costs for heating and cooling. This is a significant upgrade and should be shared with your insurance agency in New Bedford. If you need to make a claim against your MA home insurance policy, you want to make sure that you get compensated for the upgraded, energy-efficient windows and doors that you have installed. Contact your New Bedford homeowners insurance agent to discuss your ideas for upgrading your home’s windows and to find out if there are any premium discounts available for doing so.
Small Changes Make a Big Difference
There are other things you can do to reduce the amount of energy required to run your South Coast home throughout the year. Contact Borden Insurance Agency in New Bedford to discuss any projects you have completed, any upgrades you have made, or any remodeling work that you are doing. It might impact your MA home insurance policy and help to reduce your annual premium for New Bedford homeowners insurance. Call our team at 508-999-3636 and speak with one of our agents to get a FREE quote for home insurance OR to update the information on your existing policy.