Having an AC unit on during the hottest months can really boost your electricity bills. Fortunately, several strategies can help you save energy while still enjoying a cool and cozy environment.
Here are some actions you can take to limit how much electricity you are using for AC.
Selecting the Right AC Unit
Choose Optimum Efficiency Rated Units
When shopping for an air conditioner, select one with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)—the higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit. At Day & Night Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, there are a wide range of efficient models available.
Inverter Air Conditioning Units
Inverter air conditioning units automatically adjust the speed of their compressors in accordance with the ambient temperature of the room, in contrast to conventional units that start and stop frequently. Because the inverter air conditioning units consume less energy than traditional units, they can help lower utility costs.
Sizing Your AC
Be sure to select an AC unit that is correctly sized for the room being cooled. Under-sized units will struggle to cool an area while over-sized units will cycle on and off unnecessarily often. Both will cause inefficiencies in the operation of the AC unit and will ultimately raise your energy bill.
Setting the Thermostat Optimum Temperature
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your AC to 78°F (25°-26°C) while at home and slightly higher when you are not home.
Avoid Low-Temperature Settings
When trying to cool down a room, avoid setting the AC at a low temperature because this will not cool the room more quickly. An air conditioning unit will use the same amount of energy while cooling to a set temperature regardless of what the set temperature is, however setting the temperature lower increases the amount of time the unit will be running, therefore increasing the amount of energy this unit will consume.
Install a Smart or Programmable Thermostat
Using either of these thermometers will automatically raise or lower the temperature of the AC based on your daily routine. For example, if you travel every day, you can program the AC to raise the temperature before you leave and to lower the temperature about 30 minutes before you return home.
Improving Home Insulation
Seal Air Leaks
Sealing air leaks around doors and windows will help to maintain the cool temperature inside your home. Even small holes and cracks can increase the amount of energy you use by forcing the AC to work harder in order to keep the room at the desired temperature.
Adding Insulation
Walls, ceilings and basements that have proper insulation reduce the amount of energy used by keeping cool air in the house longer. This reduces the need for continuous operation of the AC.
Install Weather Stripping
Weather stripping around windows and doors helps prevent cool air from escaping and warm air from entering your home.
Using Fans to Circulate Air
Ceiling and Portable Fans
Fans can help carry cool air efficiently and will allow you to increase your thermostat setting 2-4 degrees without sacrificing your comfort level. By using combinations of fans and air conditioning units, you will save energy and money.
Running Your Ceiling Fan in Reverse
During the cooling months, set your ceiling fan to operate in a counter-clockwise rotation so that you are pushing cool air down on to the room.
Cover All Windows and Doors
Use Blinds, Shades and Solar Reflective Window Film when possible
Solar heat gain through windows increases room temperature as a result of blocking the sun from shining into the room. Therefore, using blinds or shades will significantly reduce the temperature of the room and force the AC to run less.
Utilize Blackout Curtains
If you live in a space that receives a lot of sun through your windows, consider using either blackout curtains or thermal curtains as they will help reduce the amount of heat to your indoor air space through the window.
Using Your AC at Night
Consider Having Your AC Off When It Cools Down Outside
On nights that the outside air temperature is less than the temperature you want to maintain inside the house, do not turn on your AC. Open your windows, run your fans, and get the cooler air in until you reach your desired indoor air temperature.
Consider Setting Your Thermostat Higher at Night
During the night, when you are likely to require less cooling than during the day, turning up the thermostat at or prior to going to bed can save energy by decreasing any unnecessary energy use from operating the AC.
Maintaining Your AC
Clean/Replace Air Filters
Dirty air filters will reduce the amount of air that will flow into the AC and will therefore increase the amount of electricity it takes for the AC to continue operating. To maintain the AC in good working order, clean or replace all air filters every one to three months, depending on how much dirt is in your home.
Keeping All Coils and Fins Clean
Dirty coils can increase energy usage by up to 30 percent because coils are not able to dissipate heat effectively under dirty conditions and will likely cause your AC unit to work harder to cool the space it is in.
Have Your AC Serviced Once Per Year
Having your AC serviced by a professional ensures the AC is not operating any less efficiently than it could be.
Optimizing Appliance Use
Avoid Running Appliances That Generate Heat
During the time in which you utilize your AC most often, avoid using appliances that generate heat (i.e., ovens, stoves, dishwashers, etc.) because heat-generating appliances will make the inside of your nhà warm because of heat created from making these appliances.
Use Energy-efficient Light Bulbs
By replacing all of the incandescent bulbs in your home with LED bulbs, the room temperature will generally be cooler.
Using Zoned Systems
Use Cooling Zones in Your Home
If you have the ability to configure your AC to be more efficient by way of running a zoned system, only run the AC when you are in those zones. This will reduce energy waste from running the AC in the zones you are not using.
Close Doors to Unused Rooms
During periods of time that you are not using rooms, close the doors to those rooms to reduce wasteful running of the AC.
Utilizing Natural Cooling
Open Windows for Cross-ventilation
Cross-ventilation allows you to create wind currents through your home by opening windows and doors to cool your home when the outside temperature is 15 percent or more lower than your indoor temperature.
Use Natural Shade
Using trees, shrubs and awnings to block direct sunlight from entering the windows of your home will reduce the number of hours that your AC runs.
Limit Usage of AC Units
Turn Off AC When Leaving Your Home for Extended Periods of Time
During periods when you are away from your house for long periods of time, turning off the AC during that period(s) will eliminate wasted time using electricity.
Use Your AC on Vacation by Turning it Off
If you are going away for an extended period of time, if you have a vacation mode on your thermostat, set the thermostat to that setting; or simply turn the AC off.
Replace Existing Windows/Doors
Install Energy Efficient Windows
If you live in a home that has windows that are more than a few years old, consider replacing them with energy-efficient windows to reduce heat transfer and improve indoor climate control.
Installing Double-glazed Windows
Installing double-glazed windows can significantly reduce heat gain or loss by separating the two pieces of glass and insulating the entire window unit. Therefore, your AC will operate with less energy than it would operating through existing windows.
Use a Dehumidifier
In humid environments, running both a dehumidifier with your AC will cool the air by reducing the humidity of the air rather than needing to lower the temperature of the air in order to achieve the same level of comfort.
Keep Your Electric Bill Down While Using AC!
Using the above strategies to minimize the use of your electricity by not only increasing the efficiency of your air conditioning system, but also to monitor the temperatures in your house can significantly reduce your total electricity usage while keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. A combination of good practices and small changes will lead to a savings on your electricity bill over time.
