Energy Savings Tips from Energy Star, Part 4

Here's part 4 of our series on energy savings tips from Energy Star:

Remember your ceiling fan.  Use your ceiling fan to not only keep you comfortable but also to allow you to adjust your thermostat for more energy savings, especially in the summer months. When buying a new ceiling fan, consider purchasing an energy-efficient model. An Energy Star qualified ceiling fan comes with optimized fan blades and motor and those with lighting use up to 50 percent less energy than standard models. Always turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room, just as you do your lights. Remember that a ceiling fan only cools you, not a room, by using a "wind-chill effect." In the winter, reverse the spin of the fan (most fans have a small switch) and set it on the slowest speed to help send warm air down to the living area.

Keep your air filters clean.  Regularly clean or replace air filters in your home's heating and cooling system. This simple change – done monthly or every 3 months (depending on filter type) – will help lower energy bills and maintain better indoor air quality. Have your heating system checked in the fall and your cooling equipment checked in the spring by a licensed and insured contractor to keep your system performing efficiently and safely.

Consider an A/C upgrade.  If your air conditioning system is more then 10 years old, consider an upgrade. Air conditioning accounts for nearly half of your summer energy bills. Ask for Energy Star qualified models to get the highest efficiency. Make sure your contractor properly sizes and installs your new air conditioner. Improper sizing and installation can significantly reduce the performance of your new equipment. Your licensed contractor should use a calculation tool such as Manual J or other similar tool to assess the proper size.

My thoughts:

1. I always forget to do the ceiling fan switch. It just doesn't seem right to "heat" your house with a fan.

2. I change our air filters like clockwork. I have it scheduled into my Palm.

3. Our A/C is quite a bit older than 10 years. We have a new system budgeted for over the next couple of years.

Click here to read part 5 of this series.

Comments

[SexCpotatoes]

The ceiling fan in the winter, pulls cooler air from the ground, forcing the warmer air down to where you, and your thermostat, can feel it, as opposed to having all the hot air in a room up at the top, searching for a way to get out.

Plus, having your tune-ups in the busy season will cost you a lot more when they are in big demand, rather than having the heat tuned up in the spring, then the air tuned up in the fall when business for those services is much slower. You should always know enough about your heating and/or cooling system to give them the quick once over to see if they will be safe to start up yourself.