Cut your air conditioning costs with these energy-saving steps.

Cooling your home in the warmer months is just as important as heating it in the colder months, and sometimes can be nearly as expensive. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, nearly 5% of ALL electricity produced in the United States is used on air conditioning homes, costing an astounding $15 billion annually!

So, just how do we save energy without sacrificing comfort?

Cool efficiently.

One way to do this is to upgrade to newer energy-efficient equipment. Replacing a 10 -year-old or older AC unit with a newer unit will result in at least a 15% gain in efficiency – and up to 50% if you choose an ENERGY STAR® qualified one. Note that this applies to both central AC and window units. Ready to take this step and save?

Size your AC properly for the space to be cooled. Many people think a larger unit will cool better, but actually an oversized AC unit cycles on and off more often and this results in less effective dehumidification of the space. A properly-sized unit will be more efficient, and it will keep the space at a constant room temperature and at a comfortable humidity level.

Place it right.

Where you put your AC matters.

Try to install the unit in a shaded spot on your home's north or east side because direct sunshine on the unit's outdoor heat exchanger decreases efficiency. Plant trees and shrubs to shade air-conditioning units, but do not block the air flow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than one operating in the sun.

Maintain your AC.

Do not make your AC work harder than it has to. Good AC maintenance starts with cleaning the filter regularly. Try getting on a monthly schedule for cleaning and change the filter at least every three months. A dirty filter will slow air flow and decrease efficiency by as much as 30% since the system has to work harder to keep you cool. Ready to take this step and save?

Help your AC work better.

Close the blinds or shades during the hot midday hours when the sun is beating onto your home. Otherwise your AC will expend a lot of energy countering those really strong midday rays. Additionally, consider turning on fans while the AC is on. Because fans increase air circulation, you can turn up the temperature on your AC thermostat but use less power to keep cool.

For even more efficiency, seal the spaces around windows, doors and electrical and plumbing penetrations, thereby minimizing the hot air that sneaks into your house. (And remember, always keep your doors and windows closed when the AC is on.)

Reduce the Space Cooled.

Don't waste money and energy by cooling unnecessary rooms. Make sure your AC is not cooling empty rooms. Also, when the AC is on, don’t leave doors open around the house. Get in the habit of closing doors when you leave a room. Ready to take this step and save?

Ceiling fans are an AC’s best friend

If you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. Use fans (with the fan blades tilted downward) instead of your AC to create a cool breeze instead of cold, conditioned air. And remember: Ceiling fans cool only people, not the room; so when you leave the room, turn off the ceiling fan.

Turn it off when you’re not using it.

Don’t run the AC when no one’s at home. It is a myth that if you go out for part of the day, it’s better to keep your AC running because then, when you get home, your AC won’t have to work harder to quickly cool a warm house. The truth is that, even for a quick errand like a trip to the grocery store, you will save a lot of energy by turning off the AC and then turning it back on when you get home.

Are you leaving your AC on at a very cool setting all day while you're at work to keep Spot or Fluffy cool? Pets can still be comfortable even if you turn the temperature up a few degrees. Try it when you're home to see how they respond, and always make sure they have plenty of fresh water.

Program it.

If you have central AC, consider a programmable thermostat to help you keep your home at the right cooling level at different points in the day. They’re inexpensive and easy to install.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com