As the temperatures rise with the approach of summer, more and more people will be turning on their air conditioners. But by cooling their homes with air conditioners, Americans release approximately 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air. For many people, including the elderly, small children, and individuals with certain health issues, nixing the air conditioner isn’t feasible. You can, however, opt for energy-efficient units that are friendlier to both the environment and to your electric bills.
When selecting an air conditioner, choose the right sized one for the room it’s meant to cool. You might be tempted to buy big to cool the room quickly, but oversized air conditioners are actually less effective, as they won’t take enough of the humidity out of the air. The right sized unit, on the other hand, will remove the right amount of humidity from the room, and uses less energy. Energy Star has guidelines to help you determine what size air conditioner is right for you based on the square footage of your room.
Speaking of Energy Star, look for its stickers when shopping for a new unit. Room air conditioners with the Energy Star sticker use at least 10 percent less energy than conventional models and central air-conditioning units that are Energy Star-certified are about 14 percent more efficient.
Read the yellow Energy Guide labels, which tell you how much energy the labeled unit uses compared to units similar in size. Look for the manufacturer’s energy-efficiency rating (EER), and for the manufacturer’s rating of cooling capacity, in British thermal units per hour (BTU/HR). When comparing air conditioners similar in size, choose the unit with higher EER and BTU/HR numbers.
Additional features to look for include an automated thermostat, a timer, and a sleep mode. With an automated thermostat and timer, you can set the desired temperature and program the unit to turn on shortly before you arrive home. Sleep mode gradually increases the temperature, so that it’s cool enough for you just as you get into bed, and won’t notice the temperature rise once you’ve fallen asleep. An increase of just a few degrees can save a substantial amount of energy and slim your electric bills.
Don’t forget to keep your machine well-maintained and clean. The most important thing you can do is clean or replace the unit’s filter once it is clogged and dirty. Other parts of the air conditioner to keep clean are the evaporator coil, the condenser coil, and coil fins.
There are ways you can supplement the cooling effect of your unit, tricks that people without air conditioners can also use. Hang dark colored curtains in each window, and keep them drawn during the day. If you have ceiling fans in your home, you can use them along with your air conditioner, and they’ll help circulate air so you can set your air conditioner at a higher temperature and save energy. Keep the lights off as much as possible, and opt for cool foods over hot foods.
Keep your cool and your commitment to green living this summer by following these tips. Happy warm weather!
Source: BecauseAction.com
