BEAT THE HEAT AND THE BEAST
Ways to keep your cool without blowing your budget
Summer’s here, and many Americans want to crank up the air conditioning. But how do you turn up the air and keep energy costs down at the same time?
It’s an important question. The average consumer spends roughly $875 a year on heating and cooling, nearly half their energy bill, according to the Department of Energy.
So if your AC is more than a few years old, you may want to spend some money upfront on a new system in order to save a lot more cash down the line.
“Our technology does keep getting better,” says Kathleen Hogan, the Department of Energy’s deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency, who says that residents should strongly consider replacing a central air more than a dozen years old. Switching it out for one that carries an Energy Star rating could pare your cooling costs by roughly 30%, Hogan says. And while replacing them could cost thousands, rebates or financial incentives often can ease the pain. Replacing a room unit will typically set you back only $200 to $400.
“Sometimes it’s a hard sell for people, ‘ Why change something that’s still working?’ ” she says. “But the savings, particularly in a warm climate ... can really pay off.”
To make the most of your investment, keep your air condi- tioner in tip-top shape. Those regular inspections that appliance retailers recommend? Yes, you really do need them, preferably at the beginning of the cooling season. Hogan and other energy experts recommend cleaning or replacing the filters every few months.
Dan DiClerico, senior editor of Consumer Reports, says that frequent cleanings are essential.
“That’s the big enemy in terms of efficiency with any kind of air conditioner, be it a room air conditioner or central system,” he says. “The most important thing is to clean or even replace the dirty filters ... especially if the units are running all day long.”
You might also want to use a vacuum cleaner brush to clean the apparatus’ fins and coils every few weeks.
“A lot of people at the start of the season just turn the units on and forget about them,” DiClerico says. “But this routine maintenance really will make a difference in efficiency and energy costs, but maybe more importantly, the life of the unit.”
In addition to maintaining your AC, it could be a good idea to hire a contractor to insulate your attic or to seal up your entire home so no cool air leaks out.
“Most homes have enough little places where air escapes that it’s like having a window open all the time,” Hogan says. “So it’s great to have a professional come in and ‘air seal’ your home.”
That goes for the ducts as well.
“As much as 30% of the conditioned air is escaping through leaks throughout the ductwork,” DiClerico says. “Bringing a professional in ... could cost you $1,000 or more, but in the first year alone it can save you $400.”
The temperature you set inside your residence is also critical. Most experts recommend 78 degrees. A programmable thermostat can cost $200 to $300. But “once you figure them out, they can be a really effective way of managing the energy in your home year round. ... That can be a very smart energy upgrade.”
Closing vents in unoccupied rooms is also a good idea. And running a ceiling fan will allow you to boost the temperature on the thermostat because the fan will help you feel cooler. Just remember, says Hogan, “the fan is not actually cooling the room, it’s cooling you. If you leave the room, you want to turn that off.”
Those regular inspections that appliance retailers recommend? Yes, you really do need them.