Tip 9 - Cool Tricks |
| On an average summer day, U.S. air conditioners pump enough cold air to produce 16 trillion ice cubes.
Air conditioners have revolutionized our lives. Today, 64 percent of U.S. homes have air conditioning. This may comfort homeowners but not the planet. In summer, air conditioners consume an ever-increasing percentage of our electricity. About 8 million new air conditioners are sold in the United States each year. |
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ENERGY FACTS
- To cool your house efficiently, your air conditioner must be cool itself, so try to keep it in the shade. An air conditioner exposed to direct sunlight will use up to five percent more energy than a shaded unit.
- Air conditioners installed on the north sides of houses generally use less energy than those on the south or west sides where it's sunny.
- If your air conditioner already is in the sun, you can build a simple wooden shade screen for it. But don't block the air flow.
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SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY
- If you have central air conditioning: Cool only the rooms you use. But don't close all vents. Closing too many actually reduces operating efficiency.
- Turn off the air conditioner when you leave the house for several hours.
- A thermostat is not a throttle, so don't switch your air conditioner to a colder setting when you turn it on. It won't cool the room any faster but it will waste energy when you forget to turn it up again.
- Install a timer on your room air conditioner, or use a programmable thermostat on your central air conditioner. Don't leave your air conditioner on if no one is home. Hardware stores sell timers that will automatically start your air conditioner shortly before you return home. You may never notice the difference until you see the savings on your electric bill.
- Keep the heat out. Minimize the amount of heat entering your home by drawing shades and curtains on hot days. And don't leave windows and doors open while your air conditioner is running.
- Set the thermostat as high as possible. The minimum recommended energy-efficient summer temperature is 78°F.
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CARING FOR COILS
- You can save energy by caring for air conditioner coils. They won't work efficiently unless they're clean and straight so check them every spring.
- If the coils are bent, you can carefully straighten them with a plastic spatula. Or call a service person to repair them.
- If they're dusty, dirty or clogged with old leaves, use your household vacuum cleaner. If the vacuum attachment won't fit between the coils, reverse the air flow and blow the dirt away instead.
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DON'T FORGET THE FILTER
- Air conditioners are equipped with a filter to protect fan blades, the motor and other parts.
- A clogged filter will use up to five percent more energy than a clean one, so check your filter at the beginning of the cooling season.
- Permanent filters can be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. Disposable filters should be replaced every month or two while the unit is in use.
SOURCES Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute, 1501 Wilson Blvd., 6th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209, 703.524.8800. Free booklets that explain air conditioners, filters and heat pumps. Be sure to send a self-addressed, stamped envelope. |
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