While air conditioning is less than 10% of your total household energy use, it could be 25% to 40% of your electricity usage and cost and between 20% to 30% of your total energy cost. Cost and usage spread out over only 3 or 4 months.
This is an area where you can save the most electricity and energy cost.
No-cost EE tips
- Turn up your thermostat from 68 degree. This could save you 10% to 20% on your colling bill.
- Keep your ducts and registers clean and unobstructed.
- Close curtains on sunny days
- Use your fans to move air around
- Use your bathroom room to remove heat and moisture after a shower.
- Grill outside or avoid turning on your oven.
Low-costs EE tips
- Clean and replace your AC filter regularly at least every 3 months or when dirty
- Seal gaps and leaks that let hot air in.
- Replace bulbs with LEDs that give off less heat.
- Maintain your AC system annually.
- Buy and use a programmable thermostat can save you 10% to 20% on your AC bill.
- Install low e film on your single pane windows.
- Use zone cooling to limit cooling in unoccupied rooms.
- For older system right size the system and in the right location away from direct sunlight.
- Consider a very efficient heat pump to replace your heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.