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Air-conditioning: such a blessing on a hot summer's day – and such a curse on your monthly utility bill. But it doesn't have to be this way. With the right air conditioning unit and a few good habits, you can stay cool for a lot less this summer.
If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, be sure to look for ENERGY STAR-qualified models, which use at least 14 percent less electricity than conventional models. They also often include cool (pun regrettably intended) features such as timers, temperature sensors and programmable thermostats that can save you money by making sure you don’t over-cool your home.
But be careful! A lot of people accidentally buy air conditioners that are bigger than they need. For example, a 10,000 BTU model will cool a 400 square foot area; but you only need a 5,000 BTU model to cool a 150 square foot room. Smaller units will cost less and use less energy – which means they’ll also be cheaper to operate.
Even if you have a no-frills air conditioner and aren’t planning on buying a new model, there are still plenty of energy savings to be had just from smart operation.
First of all, disregard the persistent myth that an air conditioner must work harder to recool a warm house than it does to maintain a cool temperature. While it does take more energy to run an air conditioner at full blast than it does to run it on low, the difference is a fraction of the energy needed to keep a house cool all day long while there’s nobody there to enjoy it – especially since many people keep their AC on high even when they are not home.
So turn down your air conditioning when you leave the house and when you go to sleep; when it’s not that hot, turn it off all together. If, when you come home, your house or apartment is hotter inside than the air outside, don’t turn on the air conditioning right away. Instead, open a window and let the natural breezes cool your room first, and then turn on your air conditioning. Even better, on mild days, leave the windows open and just use a fan. When you do turn your AC back on, set its thermostat to your ideal temperature. Setting it to a colder than desired temperature won’t cool down your house any quicker – it will just keep your AC going long after you need it. Finally, make sure to clean your AC unit regularly. A clogged filter will not only force your air conditioning unit to work harder, it also will send out less cool air.
Read more about Energy Star Air Heating and Cooling equipment and proper air conditioner sizing.
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