Heating & Cooling: Eco-Friendly Checklist

Your home’s HVAC system and the way you go about regulating temperatures in your house can be very impactful to the environment.

If you heat and cool your home in inefficient ways or create a situation where you have to use excessive energy to control the temperature, it won’t only be less eco-friendly, but it can get very expensive in utility costs over time.

Check out this list of things to consider in leveling up your home’s sustainability when it comes to temperature control.

Want to check out more than just this topic? See our full eco-friendly home checklist!

Checklist

  • Programmable thermostat
  • Install insulation in ceiling, floor and walls
  • Shift to double-pane windows
  • Weatherproofing your house from draughts and air leaks
  • Cool roof
  • Upgrade your HVAC system (look for energy star labels)
  • Natural shading

Download & Print

You can make a copy of this checklist in Google Sheets, allowing you to customize however you see fit. You can also print a copy from Google Sheets once it’s copied if desired.

View the sheet first and make a copy via File > Make a copy or simply click the “Make a Copy” button below.

Google Sheets Checklist
Make a Copy

Programmable thermostat

 Impact: Medium
 Effort: Easy
 Cost: $100 - $200 typically, but can cost more depending on what model you select.

Most thermostats nowadays are programmable to some extent, but upgrading to an easy-to use and customizable one can allow you to have more control over your energy use at home.

Install insulation in ceiling, floor and walls

 Impact: Medium
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: $1.50 - $5.00 per square foot (1), depending on the type of insulation used and where it is needed.

Many homes are under-insulated, which allows heat to escape easily in the cold months and heat to move in during the warm months. Proper insulation can keep your home more regulated and reduce the need for heating and cooling use.

Shift to double-pane windows

 Impact: Medium
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: Depending on the installation company, window choice, and size of your home, window replacement can get pretty costly. According to Forbes, the average cost of a mid-range window is about $600 per window, which may be a bit lower than the real cost if you go for the most energy efficient option. (2) However, the good news is that over time, you can save significantly on energy cost due to efficient windows and recoup your investment.

The type of windows that you have can make a tremendous difference in your house's insulation and ability to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Weatherproofing your house from draughts and air leaks

 Impact: Medium
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: This could cost around $10 - $20 for the proper sealants, but heavily depends on the weak points in your weatherproofing. Over time, this will save you money by reducing the need for heat and air conditioning.

Properly sealing and insulating around windows, doors, and other air entry points in your house can make a significant difference in the indoor temperature. This can reduce your reliance on your furnace or A/C unit to regulate the temperature, saving energy and money!

Natural shading

 Impact: High
 Effort: Somewhat Difficult
 Cost: The cost of planting or moving trees to shade your house will vary drastically based on how much coverage you need and the size of the trees you're planting. You can spend far less money on younger trees, but they'll take a long time to provide full shade coverage.

Planting trees to shade your home can do wonders to keep your home cooler and reduce the energy and money you put into air conditioning and fans. According to Energy.gov, temperatures directly under trees can be up to 25°F cooler than temperatures above blacktop in the same area (5).

Cool roof

 Impact: High
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: Like most roofing materials, cool roof costs can vary depending on the size of your home and level of materials you want. However, with installation, cool roof costs are usually somewhat comparable to traditional roofing or a little more expensive.

A cool roof is specifically designed to reflect sunlight, which absorbs less energy and heat - helping to keep the inside cool.

Upgrade your HVAC system (look for energy star labels)

 Impact: High
 Effort: Challenging
 Cost: While installation of a new HVAC system can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 on average (3), it can save 20 - 40% on your cooling energy costs by switching to a newer model. (4)

In recent years, HVAC systems have improved a lot with a focus on energy efficiency. Upgrading your home's HVAC system can make improvements to cost and energy usage.

Article Sources ↓

Natural Replacements references research from industry experts and reputable industry publishers to support claims or data in our content when applicable. Learn more about our publishing standards and practices in our editorial guidelines.

  1. Forbes - How Much Does Home Insulation Cost?
    Accessed: October 5, 2022
  2. Forbes - How Much Does A Window Replacement Cost?
    Accessed: October 5, 2022
  3. Home Advisor (Angi) - How Much Does It Cost To Install Or Replace An HVAC System?
    Accessed: October 7, 2022
  4. Energy.gov - You Asked, We Are Answering: Your Home Efficiency Questions
    Accessed: October 8, 2022
  5. Energy.gov - Landscaping for Shade
    Accessed: October 8, 2022

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Citations for This Article

APA

Plonkey, Jim. (October 30, 2022). Heating & Cooling: Eco-Friendly Checklist. Natural Replacements. Retrieved October 5, 2024, from https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/household/heating-cooling-eco-friendly-checklist/

MLA

Plonkey, Jim. "Heating & Cooling: Eco-Friendly Checklist." Natural Replacements, https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/household/heating-cooling-eco-friendly-checklist/

Chicago

Plonkey, Jim. "Heating & Cooling: Eco-Friendly Checklist." Natural Replacements, Last modified October 30, 2022. https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/household/heating-cooling-eco-friendly-checklist/

Jim Plonkey

Jim Plonkey is a Co-founder of Natural Replacements. A digital marketing professional with a passion for sustainability, Jim lives in Southeast Michigan and enjoys traveling to new places, spending time outdoors - kayaking, hiking, and gardening, and yoga.

Content on the Natural Replacements is produced under the guidance of our editorial standards.

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Written By: Jim Plonkey

Updated: October 30, 2022

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