Efficiency Hunters: Breathing Easy At Home
Escape home allergens so you can breathe easier at home.
In this video and article, you’ll learn:
- How to improve your home’s indoor air quality
- How clean air helps lower your utility bill
- Where to find energy efficient products and appliances for your home
Breathing clean air is so important for maintaining good health. And that starts with the air you breathe at home. While it might seem like there’s nothing you can do to improve your home’s indoor air quality, that’s actually not true. Not only are there steps you can take to breathe easier at home, but some can even help you save energy and lower your utility bill! Read on for more, and check out the tips in our latest episode of Efficiency Hunters, where TVA-certified Home Energy Advisors show homeowners like you how to save energy and money at home.
1. Turn on the range hood fan when you’re cooking.
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget to turn on your range hood’s fan once you’ve started cooking. Ingredients are flying, pots and pans are clattering — you might not remember to switch the fan on until there’s smoke, steam or the smell of something burning! But here’s a quick and easy tip to keep in mind when you’re in the kitchen: If you’re cooking at high temperatures or boiling something, go ahead and flip the fan on. It’ll increase ventilation and keep smells from embedding themselves into the air.
Another really simple thing you can do to reduce air pollutants by as much as 70% when you’re cooking is to move your pots and pans to the back burners and turn your fan on low. The back burners are closer to the fan, which makes it easier for your fan to do its job. (While we’re on the subject of moving pots and pans, don’t forget to match the size of your cookware to the size of your burners. This helps reduce energy waste.)
2. Choose electric next time you upgrade your stove.
If your current stove goes kaput or you’re just looking for an upgrade, go for an electric stove or induction range. These options cut down on air pollutants, plus they’re more energy efficient. When you’re shopping for a new stove, make sure to look for the blue ENERGY STAR logo. Every ENERGY STAR certified product has been independently reviewed to ensure its efficiency performance and savings. And don’t forget about the yellow Energy Guide label. It will tell you more about the stove’s energy use and operating costs.
3. Use your outdoor grill.
Everything tastes better when it’s made on a grill, right? When the weather allows, head outside and get your grill going. Not only does cooking on a grill keep all the food smells out of your home, but it also helps keep your house nice and cool. If the stove is off, then it’s not creating extra heat that will activate your AC. Keep those delicious grill smells outside, make your neighbors jealous and save energy with this simple switch!
4. Use air purifiers.
Air purifiers are perfect for capturing pesky air pollutants. These portable devices have an internal filter and fan that pull in pollutants like mold and pesticides, and allergens like dust, pet dander and pollen. Built to sense a room or home’s air quality, air purifiers work to remove all those air agitators from circulation. While most people opt for individual air purifiers for specific rooms, you can also invest in a whole-home air purifying system. These can remove up to 99.97% of air pollutants in your home!
Your next step:
Find the best energy efficient products for your home.
Ready for some home energy upgrades that can help you breathe easier at home? Avoid bottomless internet searches and head to the EnergyRight Marketplace instead. It’s your one-stop shop for ratings and reviews, price comparisons and financing options on energy efficient products that can improve your home’s air quality and reduce energy waste, like cooktops, ranges, range hoods, air purifiers, dehumidifiers and more.
Cleaner air and a healthier home start at the EnergyRight Marketplace.
