Energy Saving Tips for the AC

Air conditioning

Check air filters once a month and replace at least once every three months as dirty filters make your system run and work harder than necessary. As debris collects, less of the cool air is entering your home.

Make sure your air-conditioner is clean. Washing the outside coils and clearing high grass and debris will prevent blockage of the air-flow. Outside air conditioning units, or condensers, should also be shaded.

If your air-conditioner is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model that can use up to 40% less energy than older models

Programmable thermostats

Properly used, a programmable thermostat can save 10-20% of your energy use. Run your HVAC on automatic rather than running it continuously.

In summer, set your thermostat as high as is comfortable. Try it at 78°F. Program your thermostat to raise the temperature during the day when you're not home, and cool the house down before you arrive home. And remember, setting your thermostat at a lower temperature than desired does not make your home cool faster.

In winter, set your thermostat to 68°F. Also set it to cool down your house during the day and heat it back up before you get home.

Every extra degree of cooling or heating increases energy usage 6% to 8%.

Ducts, Vents, & Openings

Check your ducts for air leaks. Use heat approved tapes rather than cloth-backed duct tape to seal your ducts. Make sure radiators, baseboard heaters, warm-air registers, and A/C vents aren't blocked by furniture or curtains.

Keep the dampers on your fireplace closed when you are not using it.

Fans

Use fans to remain cool instead of lowering your thermostat. Fans move the air and make the room feel four to six degrees cooler, and will use much less energy than the air conditioner. Just be sure to turn them off when you leave the room. They can't cool you if you aren't there. Whole-house fans help keep your home cooler in summer by pulling cool air through your home and exhausting warm air through the attic.

Turn off the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms twenty minutes after you finish bathing or cooking.

Don't leave bathroom or kitchen ventilation fans running longer than necessary; they replace inside air with outside air.