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Cooling and Heating

Air Conditioning

When the temperature rises, so does the demand on your air conditioner to use energy efficiently. Heating and cooling costs account for about 40 percent of your yearly energy spending. Here are some tips to keep your house cool and to keep you from getting hot under the collar come bill time.

• Apply weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows to keep the chilled air inside.
• Install a programmable thermostat that enables you to preset different temperatures depending on when you're home and for different times of day.
• Raise the thermostat setting as much as you can without sacrificing comfort. For every degree you raise the setting, you can cut cooling bills by as much as 5 percent. In summer, turning the thermostat up to 78 will keep the cost down. In winter, set at 70. New studies indicate that the heating and cooling system will run less if you keep it at one temperature setting. Also, limit temperature variances to 3 degrees.
• Keep exterior doors and windows closed when running the air conditioner.
• Plant trees and shrubs to keep the house and the air conditioner's outdoor component in the shade, yet still allow air to circulate.
• Change the filter in your air conditioner each month. A simple reminder is to change your filter each month when you receive your electric bill.

Evaporative Coolers

Commonly referred to as swamp coolers, evaporative systems require good air circulation to cool effectively. To allow air to flow freely, open a window in each room, preferably selecting a window as far away as possible from the supply air register. You also want to:

• Replace cooler pads at the beginning of each season to maximize your cooler's effectiveness. Chemical water treatments are available to reduce scale build-up.
• Clean and service the unit annually. Protect metal parts with rust-resistant paint. Lubricate the motor and bearings with non-detergent oil. Check belt and pump to ensure they are working properly.
• If you don't already have one, consider installing a two-speed motor, which enables you to decrease the cooler's output and energy use during times of moderate temperatures.
• Close the cooler's dampers in the ductwork before turning on the heating system.
• Make sure that water flows over the entire surface of the cooler pads.
  

Heat Pumps

The most energy-efficient heating and cooling system available, a heat pump uses a dual system that cools your house in the summer and heats it the winter. In the summer it removes heat from the house, dehumidifying as it cools. In the winter it reverses the cycle and transfers in heat from the outside air, which even at zero degrees Fahrenheit contains about 80 percent of the heat it contains at 100 degrees.

Heating Efficiently

Careful operation and maintenance of equipment can greatly reduce heating costs. Here are some practical tips to keep your costs low:

• Open draperies, shades and blinds in winter months to let the sun's heat help warm your home.
• Turn the thermostat down to the lowest comfortable setting and set it even lower at night. A programmable thermostat will make these changes automatically.
• Check air filters several times during the heating season to make sure they are clean and unobstructed.
• Keep heating outlets and return-air grills free from obstructions.
• Make sure rooftop and attic ducts are wrapped with a minimum of R-6 rated insulation.
• Fireplaces, unless specially designed or modified, are inefficient heating units. Use a standard fireplace for visual effect only. Keep damper closed whenever it is not in use.
• Humidity inside the house in winter helps the air feel warmer. Washing clothes and dishes and watering plants can add moisture to the air.
• Limit the use of portable space heaters, which are good for heating small areas, but do not warm an entire home efficiently.