Air conditioner uses up energy big-time (as if you don’t know this already!). About 40 percent of your electricity bill comes from these home-cooling devices. However, reducing your energy consumption isn’t as easy as ditching your old air conditioner for an energy-efficient one, though using an air conditioner with an efficiency rating of A or 10 should be a good start. Here are tips on how you can lower your bills by as much as 50 percent:
Look at the big picture.
Energy efficiency is not just a matter of choosing the right kind of appliance to put in your home. It’s knowing how everything works and how effectively so: heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing, and lighting. Check out appliances that no longer work, that need updating. Is the thermostat functioning or is it too old it’s no longer capable of conserving energy? How is the insulation in the walls, floors, attics, and doors? Do your curtains provide enough coverage or does the sunlight enter your house aggressively it impedes the performance of your fan and air conditioner? Start analyzing your answers and work from there.
Check the size of your air conditioner.
Bigger air conditioner doesn’t automatically mean better. In some cases, it ends up as the wrong choice because it performs less efficiently and uses up more energy than a properly sized unit. Hire a professional to find out if your air conditioner’s size fits the specs of your room.
Relearn the basics of A/C TLC.
Here’s a couple: Instead of constantly switching your air conditioner on and off, let it run for a long period of time. To get your thermostat functioning properly, keep it away from lamps or TV sets. Turn off the air conditioner if the house will be unoccupied for a long period of time—look for a programmable thermostat, so it’ll turn on and off automatically. Shade your air-conditioning units, but don’t block the airflow. We all love the cold, but don’t reduce your thermostat setting to a colder temperature as soon as you turn on the air conditioner.
Fan > Air Conditioner.
Fans are definitely more energy-efficient, as it maximizes the cool air around the house. They’re best to use at night when the outside air temperature is cooler than the one inside.
Choose a ceiling fan.
If you’re getting a fan, go for ceiling fan as it spreads the cooled air more efficiently and effectively.
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Cover photo courtesy of Indianist
