Posted by Nirav Ashara in How to Air Condition Your Home and Not Sweat the Cost on Friday, June 12, 2009
How to Air Condition Your Home and Not Sweat the Cost
I’ve caved to the summer heat. For a while, I was determined to win the good fight by turning on fans, wearing shorts and sandals exclusively and leaving doors ajar to let the fresh breezes blow in. But when I trudged inside after mowing the lawn and was greeted by a blanket of warm, stale air, I hit my breaking point. Reluctantly, I’ve turned on my air conditioner. And in exchange, the prospect of skyrocketing energy bills haunts me.
If you’ve noticed your power bill creeping up in recent weeks, you aren’t crazy. The kilowatt per hour rate, the pricing unit for electricity, is going up as summer energy rates set in. Moreover, Energy Star states that the average household shells out $1,000 per year on home heating and cooling, which sends shivers down my spine.
But there are ways to stay comfortably cool indoors without going broke. You can’t live in arctic conditions, but you won’t have to swelter through the night, either. Start out by setting the thermostat to 78 degrees, which most energy experts advise as the optimal summer temperature. Then, follow the five tips below to shave off more kilowatt hours from your next power bill.
Turn it down when you’re not home : The U.S. Department of Energy urges consumers to set thermostats 10 to 15 degrees warmer when they leave home. The closer the indoor temperature matches the outdoor temperature, the less power the air conditioner burns.
See how high you can go: For every degree you raise the temperature, the South Carolina Energy Office says you can save up to 5 percent on cooling costs. If things get steamy, turn on a fan.
Block out the sun: Shades, blinds and curtains insulate against heat from the sun, saving you money and keeping the house cooler.
Keep the unit clean: Clear away brush and debris from around outdoor units to improve efficiency. Energy Star also recommends checking the indoor and outdoor coil to make sure they’re clean.
Don’t block airflow: If you’ve blocked vents with furniture or anything else, move it out of the way. Also, change air filters monthly to make sure the cool breezes can get through to begin with.
Following these tips will also give you a head start on cutting winter energy costs. That way, you’ll save some green year round.
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