Energy Savings Tips: Cooling Your Home - Fans & Air Conditioning

Energy Savings Tips: Cooling Your Home - Fans & Air Conditioning

Here are ways to save energy on cooling your home - fans & air conditioning (sorry, a cold beer at your local pub doesn't count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Cooling Your Home - Fans & Air Conditioning
* Set your thermostat at 78 degrees F when you're home and 85 degrees F when you're away. The best energy savings temperature for your air conditioner's thermostat is 78°F or higher. A setting of 78°F instead of 72°F can save up to 12% of your cooling costs.
* Add Insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy 80 percent of older homes are under insulated. You can save hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bills and the payback period can be in as little as two years. The best place to start is by sealing large gaps around chimneys, furnace flues, plumbing pipes, ductwork, light fixtures, and soffits in your attic to save energy. Don't forget to examine that mother-in-law for leaky windpipes as well. You can also place insulation between attic-floor joists and on the hatch or door, or add more if it's already there. Next, seal air leaks in the basement and insulate ceilings in unheated basements and around the walls in heated basements or unvented crawl spaces.
* Use ceiling fans to help circulate air throughout the house.
* Use portable fans to cool your home.
* Turn off fans when not at home.
* If you use a window air conditioner, set it on low for the most savings.
* Keep all windows and doors closed when using the air conditioner.
* Close blinds and drapes to keep cool air inside, especially to the side of your home facing the sun.
* When purchasing a window air conditioner or any other new appliance, look for models with the ENERGY STAR
® label--they are more energy efficient and will help keep costs down
* Keep cool air inside. Check weatherstripping around doors and caulking around windows. Properly sealed doors and windows help prevent warm or cold outside air from entering the home. Weather-stripping and caulking your doors and windows can save as much as 6% of your cooling costs.
* Don't let the cool air escape. Keep doors and windows closed on hot nights.
* Proper insulation will keep your home cool in the summer. "R" stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the "R value," the greater the insulating power.
* Don't block cooling vents. Check to see that cooling vents are unobstructed so your system doesn't over-work itself getting air conditioning into your home. An obstructed vent, inside or outside your home, wastes both energy and money. Move furniture away from vents and window air conditioners.
* Replace air filers. Check filters at least twice during the heating season and either vacuum or replace them.
* Use fans when you can. By using fans instead of central air-conditioning, you can save 80 to 90% on cooling costs. In fact, if every residence with air conditioning in a major city used fans for just three hours on one warm summer day, the energy saved could power over 3,000 homes for a full month.
* Landscaping. Keep bushes away from central air conditioner.
* Window treatments. Consider installing reflective films or solar shade screens on windows with the greatest exposure to the summer sun.
* Awnings: Shade your house awnings and overhangs to provide shade around the windows and the outside of your home.
* Landscaping. A shaded house is easier to cool than one in direct sunlight, so plant trees to help keep your home cool.
* Proper air conditioner maintenance. Proper maintenance helps your air conditioner run more efficiently. In addition to regular do-it-yourself maintenance, it's a good idea to have your entire system checked yearly by a qualified air-conditioning contractor.
Buying a new air conditioner. Important factors to consider when shopping for a new air conditioner are: size of area to be cooled, climate, your home's construction, sun exposure, wiring, insulation and the number and location of windows. Once you have this information, determine which unit will cool your home for the lowest cost.