This information is reprinted from a booklet called “100+ Ways To Improve Your Electric Bill.” These simple, low- or no-cost tips can assist you in making your energy decisions and in gaining greater control over your electric bill. By following these tips, you also will improve the comfort and convenience of your home. And you’ll help to protect the environment by using energy wisely. Compiled by the Edison Electric Institute 2008© Washington, D. C. www.eei.org
COOLING
Air conditioners vary considerably in efficiency and in the amount of energy used. Therefore, select equipment based on its federal energy efficiency rating. For window units, this rating is the Energy Efficiency Ratio, or EER. New standards for room air conditioners went into effect on October 1, 2000. For many types of room air conditioners, the minimum EER is 9.0 or 9.7. As a general rule, an EER of 11 or more is excellent.
Central air-conditioner units are rated on their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. A rating of 14 SEER is excellent, and the minimum cooling efficiency for air conditioners and heat pumps is 13 SEER. An ENERGY STAR® unit will have a SEER level of 14 and an EER of 11.5.
Seek professional help when determining the size of cooling equipment needed. Oversized units should be avoided—not only because they draw more energy than is necessary, but also because they cannot dehumidify properly.
Locate the compressor units of central air-conditioning and heat pump systems in an outside area that is shaded by the house or by trees and plants. Units should be kept clean and free of any plant or tree overgrowth.
Direct sunlight falling on a window air-conditioning unit increases its workload. When a choice is possible, locate such units on the north or shady side of the house.
Set the cooling thermostat as high as comfort will permit. The higher the set-ting, the more energy you save.
Attics must be ventilated to relieve heat buildup caused by the sun. When planning a new home, install vents of proper size and location to ensure attic ventilation by natural airflow. For existing homes, determine whether attic ventilation is adequate and, if necessary, improve airflow by adding or enlarging vents.
Choose light-colored roof shingles for your house to reflect more of the sun’s heat. The darker the shingles, the more heat will be absorbed during the summer season.
Open windows during the moderate weather of spring and fall to admit outside air for cooling instead of operating air-conditioning equipment.
Close cooling vents and turn off window air conditioners in unused rooms. Keep doors to unused rooms closed.
Draw blinds, shades, or drapes to block the sunlight during the hottest part of the day, especially on south- and west-facing windows.
In the cooling season, run kitchen and bath exhaust fans only long enough to rid the house of unwanted water vapor and odors.
Don’t position heat-producing devices such as lamps and TV sets beneath a wall-mounted thermostat for a central cooling system. Heat rising from the equipment could cause the thermostat to read a temperature higher than the true room temperature and lead to over-cooling.
For more information on cooling, check out the
following Web sites: www.geoexchange.com, www.ahrinet.org and www.energystar.gov
Tags: conservation, electricity, Energy
