Keep your cool

& your hard-earned cash, too

Using your air conditioning wisely

can keep you comfortable while saving you money

 

 

Often a home feels hot even though the air conditioner is running.  If this is the case in your home, you can do one of two things:  (1) - Crank the air condition up to full blast; OR   (2) - Figure out what is causing the excess heat in your house --- and stop it.  Option 2 is by far the most efficient and will save you money. 

 

Heat reduction tips

 

Below are some things to note if you want to start looking for ways to reduce the heat inside your home:

 

â  Keep lamps, TV’s, computer monitors, etc., away from your air conditioning thermostat.  All of these items generate heat and could trick your thermostat into thinking it’s hotter than the actual air temperature.  This will make your air conditioner work harder and run longer.

 

â Turn off your electronics when not in use.  Again, they generate the excess heat that is your air conditioner’s #1 foe.

 

â  Use your range sparingly.  Cook instead with small appliances (slow cooker, microwave) that generate less heat.  Better yet, enjoy a cold meal of salads and sandwiches or grill outdoors.

 

â  If you have a dishwasher, air dry your dishes instead of using the dry cycle.  It will create less heat and save you money on the operation of your dishwasher.

 

â  When your next incandescent light bulb burns out, consider replacing it with a compact fluorescent bulb.  Fluorescent bulbs generate very little heat, and they last longer than standard incandescent bulbs.

 

More savings ideas

 

Here are some more suggestions to help you save your air conditioning dollars:

 

â  Set the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher.  A setting for 78 could save you 15 percent or more on cooling costs over a setting of 72 degrees.

 

â  Don’t set the thermostat to a colder-than-normal setting if you think the house is too hot.  It will not cool the house any faster, but will simply overshoot the desired temperature and waste energy.

 

â  Use nature’s air conditioning whenever possible.  Open your windows to enjoy the cool night air and close them again before the heat of the day arrives.

 

â  Clean or replace your air conditioner’s filters at least once a month.

 

â  Periodically clean and vacuum the grills, coils and cooling fins on your outside unit.  Keep it free of leaves, shrubs and other obstructions.

 

â  Supplement your air conditioner with fans.  Your air conditioner removes humidity from the air; and a ceiling or floor fan will helped move the conditioned air around.

 

â  Turn off your air conditioner if you are going to be away for several hours.  It takes less energy to re-cool the house than it does to keep it cool while you are gone. 

 

â  Consider installing a programmable thermostat that will automatically raise its setting while you are at work during the day and lower the setting just before you arrive home in the evening.  Most programmable thermostats even let you program in up to four different settings every day of the week if you so desire.

 

For more energy saving ideas visit one of the following websites:

 

US Department of Energy's "Energy Savers Guide" - click here

 

Apogee Energy Calculator - click here!

 

Touchstone Energy Home Energy Saver - click here!