• Avoid Problems with HVAC
• Improving Indoor Air Quality
• Decrease Your Energy Bill While Cooling Your Home
• Energy & Cost Efficient Changes to Your HVAC
• Purchasing An Energy Efficient HVAC System
• Air Conditioning – Definition and History
• How Air Conditioners Work
• HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, and AC
• Alen Corporation - History and Products
• Air Fresheners Don't Freshen
• Make Your Home Safe with Better Ventilation
• FEMA Trailer Residents Fighting Mold
• Humid Areas at High Risk for Mold
• Relieve Stress By Removing Clutter
• Toxicity in Office Affects Indoor Air Quality
• Using Candles Safely
• Wet Weather Breeds Mold

Continued - Decreasing Your Energy Bill While Cooling Your Home This Summer

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Use Your Home's Resources

By using the resources already available in your home, you can help decrease your energy bill by not using your air conditioner.

• Ceiling fans help move air and make rooms feel slightly cooler while shades and blinds can reduce incoming sunlight and help rooms stay cool.
• Awnings, trees, and outdoor shades can help reduce heat from entering the home even without the use of blinds.
• Double-pane windows help trap air and prevent warm air from entering the home while keeping cool air inside. These act like air traps and help insulate the home against energy loss.
• Proper insulation in walls and attics can also go a long way in preventing energy loss and help to keep cooler air inside the home.

If your room air conditioner is over 10 years old, you may want to replace it rather than have it repaired. Most times, replacing an old air conditioner ends up being more cost effective than repairing them because of the savings involved with newer, energy efficient models. In fact, new air conditioner models use approximately half as much energy as those manufactured before 1979. Some areas even help buy back old air conditioner units or give rebates for upgrades. You can visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy at www.dsireusa.org to see if your state participates in the program.

If you have an old air conditioner, contact your local waste or recycling departments to determine the best method of disposal. Although most air conditioning components are recyclable, these appliances use cooling chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. Local and government waste disposal authorities will tell you how to properly dispose of these components.

Energy efficient air conditioner models help save the environment by decreasing dependence on electricity, and are also an investment in savings. Purchasing an energy efficient model may initially cost more than a conventional model, but it can potentially save you thousands over the lifetime of the air conditioner. When choosing a model, be sure to compare EER ratings, Energy Star certifications and Btu/hour ratings.

Most energy efficient air conditioner models pay for themselves through the savings in energy, especially in hot climates where you use air conditioner systems for most of the year. The Washington State University Energy Program has a calculator to help you compare energy and price savings between models. The website is located at www.energyexperts.org/ac_calc.

Resource Article: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/2006-08-01/Best-Air-Conditioners.aspx

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