The Green Minute: Air Conditioning

It is a dubious record.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced yesterday that the first six months of 2012 was the hottest on record. For the month of June, every state in the country, except for Washington, registered above average temperatures for the month.

To help you get through one of the warmest summers in our nation’s history, today’s Green Minute will provide you some helpful tips on air conditioning that will not only help you save the environment but also “soften” the sticker shock you will experience when you open your electric bill at the end of the month.

Green Minute Tips:

Help circulate cool air through the home by placing an oscillating fan in family rooms, like a living room or dining room.

Keep the temperature constant and avoid dropping the thermostat too low. Lowering the temperature costs you money and won’t cool the home any faster.

Raise the thermostat 2 to 3 degrees before you leave for work if no one will be home. Energy experts say that moving the temperature up 5 degrees for eight hours a day can save you $3 to $5 a month.

Install a whole house fan system. Whole house fans pull the hot attic air out of the home and keeps the air circulating, giving your home a cooling effect. This move could chill your home by a few degrees.

Replace old air conditioning units. If your window unit is a decade old, it needs to be replaced with an energy efficient unit. If your home has central AC, have the thermostat calibrated and the system charged yearly. Homeowners should replace their older SEER units (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) to save energy bucks. Replacing a unit with a SEER rating of 10 with one that has an 18 SEER rating could save up to 50% on your AC costs annually.

Change the air conditioning filters regularly; once a month is suitable. Good air flow across the filter will cut down on cooling costs. Air filters cost between $10 and $25 a piece, but replacing them can save you 5 to 15 percent on your monthly bill.

Keep windows covered during hot afternoons.

Do a walk through of your home while the air is on. Check for leaks around windows and doors. Sometimes your energy dollars simply float out the window.