Cooling - Cooling Tips * Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. They are effective when operated at night and when the outside air is cooler than the inside.
* Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
* Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air-conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.
* Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air-conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.
* Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air-conditioner to run longer than necessary.
* Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun. Cooling System Fact: Consumers spend as much as 6-12% of their gross income on their utility bills - half of this money is spent on heating and cooling. You can:
* Cut your operating costs 10-40%.
* Use 40% less energy.
* Increase your comfort.
* Reduce the impact on the environment from energy waste.
Best Features: When purchasing or upgrading your cooling equipment, choose a central air-conditioner with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of at least 12 and/or a room window unit with an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 9 or greater. In addition, look for these features:
* Energy Star(r) label.
* Multispeed blower.
* Automatic or programmable thermostats.
* Whole house fan (for use in spring and fall).
* Refrigerants that have no ozone-depleting effect.
* Evaporative or swamp cooler (for dry climates).
Save Money: Since nearly half of your utility bill is for heating and cooling, you can save a great deal of money over time by taking any or all of these energy-saving action steps:
* Consider replacing air-conditioners that are more than eight years old.
* Install new equipment on the north side of your home, if possible.
* Set your cooling thermostat setting as high as is comfortable.
* Clean or replace your air filter every one or two months.
* Plant trees or shrubs to shade the air-conditioning unit, but not to block air flow.
* Remove debris from the area around the condensing unit.
* Install a ceiling fan, attic fan, and automatic or programmable thermostats.
* Have your cooling equipment serviced by a professional technician every year or two. |
