So, after hearing us preach about the benefits of going green with your air conditioning, you’ve decided that you want to help the environment – and your wallet. Just like someone who chooses to live a healthier lifestyle – you need to know where to start. Don’t panic, you have Interstate Air Conditioning and Heating on your side. We’re not sending you to the health food store or the gym – but we will tell you what you’ll need to pick up and where to find it to ensure that your air conditioning is greener.
1. Use Ductless Air Conditioners
Does each member of your family have a different opinion about what a “perfect temperature” would be? Don’t let anyone freeze or melt – Ductless air conditioners (or split systems) allow you to individually control the temperature of each room in your home. These units can also integrate heat pumps for the winter. Now everyone can be happy!
2. Purchase a High-Efficiency Unit
Just like when you’ve had it with your old car breaking down and buy a brand new one, replacing an older air conditioner model with a high-efficiency one can reduce costs and energy usage by 20 to 50 percent! If your home has central air, look for a SEER rating of at least 14; if you have a window unit, look for an EERE rating of at least 10.7.
3. Mount a Whole House Fan
Not sure what a whole house fan is? It’s basically a fan that’s installed in the ceiling connected to your attic. It cools your home by pulling cool outside air through your open windows into your house, and expels warmer air up and out through your ventilated attic space. It’s a great way to turn your AC on a few degrees higher or, sometimes, leave it off altogether, saving you a bundle.
4. Install a Properly Sized Unit
Just like you wouldn’t wear adult-sized clothing when you’re a kid, or try and fit something huge into something tiny, the same goes for your air conditioning unit. If an air conditioner isn’t the right size, it’s not going to work properly. If your unit isn’t the correct size for the area it’s meant to cool, it will waste energy, run inefficiently, not dehumidify well, and cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repairs or energy costs. If you have a properly sized unit installed in your home, you’ll enjoy cool temperatures, low energy usage, and even lower costs!
Call one of our experts at Interstate Air to schedule an installation appointment today!
5. Invest In A Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats help reduce energy costs by about $180 a year! Offering 4 pre-programmed settings to regulate your home’s temperature, they give you the ability to set different temperatures for specific times of the day or night. Some people raise the temperature while they sleep, others turn it off completely while they’re at work, etc. Don’t waste your air conditioning – Save money and energy!