Last week was about Air Infiltration, this week (and next) we’re giving tips on Heating and Cooling.
- Air conditioners vary considerably in efficiency and in the amount of energy used. Therefore, select equipment based on its federal energy efficiency rating. For window units, this rating is the Energy Efficiency Ratio, or EER. For many types of room air conditioners, the minimum EER is 9.0 or 9.7. As a general rule, an EER of 11 or more is excellent.
- Central air conditioner units are rated on their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. A rating of 14 SEER is excellent, and the minimum cooling efficiency for air conditioners and heat pumps is 13 SEER. All ENERGY STAR® units manufactured after January 1, 2009, have a SEER level of 14.5 and an EER of 12.0.
- Seek professional help in determining the size of cooling equipment needed. Oversized units should be avoided - not only because they draw more energy than is necessary, but also because they cannot dehumidify properly.
- Locate the compressor units of central air conditioning and heat pump systems in an outside area that is shaded by the house or by trees and plants. Units should be kept clean and free of any plant or tree overgrowth.
- Direct sunlight falling on a window air conditioning unit increases its workload. When a choice is possible, locate such units on the north or shady side of the house.
- Set the cooling thermostat as high as comfort will permit. The higher the setting, the more energy you will save.
- Attics must be ventilated to relieve heat buildup caused by the sun. When planning a new home, install vents of proper size and location to ensure attic ventilation by natural airflow. For existing homes, determine whether attic ventilation is adequate and, if necessary, improve airflow by adding or enlarging vents.
- Choose light-colored roof shingles for your house to reflect more of the sun’s heat. The darker the shingles, the more heat that will be absorbed during the summer season.
- Open windows during the moderate weather of spring and fall to admit outside air for cooling instead of operating air conditioning equipment.
- Close cooling vents and turn off window air conditioners in unused rooms. Keep doors to un-used rooms closed.
3 comments:
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the leisure here! Keep up the good work.
Thank you for this very helpful blog. I did not just learn a lot of things but I also enjoyed reading your posts. I really appreciate how you put effort and time to come up with such materials that help people. Thank you so much.
Last year, I had my local Philadelphia heating company upgrade my central cooling and heating systems. They are more energy efficient than my old systems, and I have saved a lot of money with my electric bill. Even with that, I still want to be more environmentally proactive. Also, saving more money is never a bad thing! Your tips (I've been reading your other posts as well) are fantastic, and I am going to begin implementing as many as I can as soon as possible. Thank you for this information.
Post a Comment