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 Less
Dust = Less Money - Your furnace and air conditioner
work hard to keep your house at the right temperature, and
there is no reason to make them work harder than necessary.
But that's exactly what you are doing when you allow the air
filter to clog up. It restricts the flow of air and forces
the fan to work overtime, so be sure to clean or replace the
air filter once a month for optimal performance. You'll be
saving energy, and now more than ever before, saving energy
means saving money.
Get
With The Program - Turning down the thermostat at night
can reduce your heating bill by as much as 10 percent, but
this is an energy-saving task that's easy to forget. Let a
programmable thermostat do the job for you. Installing a $50
digital thermostat can pay for itself in a matter of months.
Set it to lower the temperature by 10 degrees for eight
hours at night and you'll not only save money, but you'll be
reducing your carbon footprint as well.
Clean
the Coils - You made a point of buying an Energy
Star-qualified refrigerator because you know it uses less
than half the energy than the old clunker it replaced, but
did you know that a simple maintenance routine is required
to keep it running efficiently? Over time, dust accumulates
on the coils and reduces their ability to cool, so keep them
clean by vacuuming them at least twice a year. You may need
to vacuum the fan housing as well on some models, so consult
the refrigerator owner's manual for instructions on
maintaining its efficiency.
Not
So Hot - Maintaining the proper temperature in your
water heater is important in order to kill potentially
harmful bacteria, but there is no need to overdo it. Keep
the temperature at about 120F (50C), which is between the
low and medium setting on most water heaters. This will not
only save energy, but will also prevent scalding.
Audit
Yourself - The logical place to begin a long-term
strategy to save energy at home is to determine the areas in
which energy could be used more efficiently. Until recently
this involved inspections by experts from the power company
or by expensive independent consultants, but thanks to a
program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, you can
now do it online.
The Home
Energy Saver bills itself as the "first web-based
do-it-yourself energy audit tool" designed for residential
buildings. Enter your zip code, answer a few questions, and
you'll receive specific recommendations for lowering your
energy bill and reducing your carbon footprint.
More is Better -
There are some things you just can't have too much of, and
when it comes to keeping your home cool, this is especially
true. Even if you think your house has plenty of insulation,
consider adding more. Start with the attic and any exposed
ductwork, and then locate and plug any small chinks in your
house's insulation "armor." An inspection by a qualified
insulation contractor can lead to hundreds of dollars in
savings every year, so don't be put off by the initial
investment. Your checkbook will benefit, and so will the
environment.
Get Smart -
If you use your air conditioner wisely, you know that
turning the thermostat up when you aren't home saves energy.
Did you know there is an even smarter way to save energy and
money? Let your thermostat do the thinking. Installing a
programmable (or "smart") thermostat that will automatically
raise and lower the temperature based on your daily routine
can save up to 10 percent of your cooling bill. A good
quality programmable thermostat only costs about $60 and
most can be installed by any do-it-yourselfer. Program the
thermostat to rise 5 to 10 degrees when you are out, and it
will begin paying for itself immediately.
Made in the Shade -
We are so used to looking to technology for comfort,
especially when it comes to battling summer heat, that
sometimes we forget that the simplest strategies for staying
cool work best. Even animals know that the best place to
be on a hot summer day is in the shade. Keep your drapes and
blinds closed to block out the rays of the sun, and consider
installing awnings over your windows (especially over south-
and west-facing windows) if you don't already have them.
Strategically placed trees and shrubs can lower your cooling
costs not only through the shadows they cast, but also
because of the cooling effect they produce by the
evaporation of water through their leaves. Vines grown on trellises next to the
house or directly on the walls of the house have a similar
double whammy on the sun's rays. To learn more about
landscaping for shade, see the U.S. Department of Energy's
Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Addendum:
Thanks to Cheri Sheets for sending this affirmation of the
natural cooling power of shade. Let's just hope that the
pilot has some other way of getting home.
Stir It Up -
Running the air conditioning is an effective way to cool off
even if it does cost an arm and a leg in electricity, but
it's not the only way to keep your cool. Fans create a
breeze that can make a room feel several degrees cooler, and
they cost very little to run. Moving air has a cooling
effect on the human body due to the evaporation of
perspiration; it's the same as the "wind chill factor" that
the weatherman is always talking about. Using fans in
conjunction with air conditioning will allow you to set the
thermostat a little higher and save energy - and money - in
the process. Remember that fans will cool you but not the
room, so be sure to turn them off when you're not there.
Maintain the A/C - There is no
denying that air conditioning is a necessity if you live in
a warm climate, and a few simple measures will help reduce
your cooling bill. The single most important maintenance
task is to keep the air filters clean. Many can simply be
washed and used again, and others require periodic
replacement, but either way, a dirty filter costs energy and
money in terms of cooling efficiency. Be sure to also make
sure that the cooling coils are clean and free of dust, and
that the condenser unit on outdoor units has free air
circulation provided by a two-foot plant-free zone
surrounding it.
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