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Simple Solutions: Home Cooling
If you replace your old air conditioner with an ENERGY STAR® model, you can save money. Today’s ENERGY STAR® units use 30 to 40 per cent less energy than most models sold 10 to 15 years ago.
Fast and Free
- Control your cool. To save even more on central air conditioning costs, cool your home to 24°C or more instead of keeping it in the low 20s.
- To stay cooler, save money and protect the environment, keep windows and doors closed when the air conditioner is on.
- Run an oscillating fan. This will blow cool air from the basement or cool areas of the home to the upstairs or warm areas of the home.
- A window-unit air conditioner can cool a room noticeably in about 10 minutes. Think twice before letting your air conditioner run all day.
- Draw your blinds closed. White blinds or drapers can reduce the amount of heat that enters your home on hot days.
- Close basement air vents and doors to the basement if your basement doesn’t need cooling.
- Keep your outside air conditioning unit clear and free of debris.
Simple and Low Cost
- Inspect and replace your air conditioner’s filter every month once the summer heat hits. You can save energy and money by keeping your cooling equipment in good repair.
- Do you keep forgetting to adjust your thermostat? You might want to install a programmable thermostat. Experts say you can save up to $100 a year with a programmable thermostat.
- Plant a tree and grab some shade. For more shade and a cooler home in the summer, plant leafy trees on the sunny side of your house. In the winter, the bare branches let the warm sunshine through.
- Install a ceiling fan or energy-efficient heat exchange system. This will cut your air conditioning needs by almost 50 per cent in the summer.
Spend to Save
- Hire a qualified service contractor to do a periodic inspection of your air conditioning unit. Proper maintenance is critical in ensuring that your central air conditioner will operate efficiently and have a long service life.
- An ENERGY STAR® central air conditioning system saves money, makes your home more comfortable and helps protect the environment. If your air conditioning unit is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it.
- Is an air conditioner the right solution for you? If you have an electric or oil furnace or a conventional gas furnace and your space heating costs $1,000 or more per year, consider installing an efficient air source or ground-source heat pump instead of a central air conditioner.
