In warm months, up to 60 to 70 percent of the energy consumed by most homes can be attributed to cooling. Here are some general ways to reduce energy usage and helpful hints if you’re thinking about replacing your current system.
Size
Correct sizing of your air conditioner is critical to achieving maximum operating efficiency. An oversized system will run in short cycles in the cooling mode as the thermostat senses the desired temperature has been reached. Short cycling allows less time for moisture removal, resulting in higher relative humidity. What’s more, this higher humidity could lead to another big problem – mold.
On the other hand, a system that is too small won’t adequately cool a home during peak conditions. This means the system will run all the time – increasing your operating costs.
How do you arrive at a happy medium? We recommend hiring a qualified HVAC professional to perform a load calculation to ensure proper sizing of your air conditioning equipment.
Service and Maintenance
Air conditioning systems are often taken for granted, receiving little or no maintenance unless they break down. Like tuning up a car, tuning up the air conditioning system can reduce your operating costs and prolong the life of the equipment.
In early spring, schedule a tune up with a service professional to check operating efficiency and the refrigerant’s ability to cool properly. Low refrigerant could make the unit run more often and double your cooling costs. Have the professional inspect and, if necessary, oil fans and motors on the condensing unit and the inside evaporator unit.
After disconnecting power to the air conditioning unit, remember to clean the outside condenser coils and fins regularly. Make sure return air grills are free from all types of obstructions. If dirt gets into the system, the system doesn’t run as efficiently – and that costs you money.
Managing system operation
No matter how efficient your system is, your lifestyle can affect your heating and cooling costs. Of course, you want to feel comfortable when you’re home. But when you’re away, consider lowering your thermostat. Doing this can help you save a significant amount of energy. You can control the temperature of your home automatically with a programmable thermostat.
Multiple air conditioning units should be used for homes with two or more stories so you can gain more efficient control. Zoning systems provide greater efficiency and comfort by dividing the home into comfort zones – providing different temperatures for each zone.
Home’s age and condition
For a variety of reasons, newer homes generally are more energy efficient than older ones. New homes are built to keep conditioned air inside so you’re not paying to heat and cool air that easily finds its way outside. As a home gets older, settling will cause some of that air-tight construction to loosen up.
Regardless of your home’s age, you can perform simple maintenance to help keep the conditioned air inside where it belongs. Caulking, landscaping and attic insulation are just a few of the ways to help keep your home’s energy efficiency in top form.