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Cooling Energy and Savings Tips
Lower the Temperature Without Air Conditioning
Consider replacing inefficient appliances that give off a lot of heat. Especially consider replacing or discarding old or auxiliary refrigerators.
When replacing your roof or painting your house, using light-colored or other "cool" roofing and siding products can reduce your peak cooling demand by 10-15%. There are a number of roofing products that can dramatically cut down on heat gain without blinding the neighbors. Start by looking for ENERGY STAR Reflective Roof Products.
To keep high-angle summer sun out, consider horizontal trellises for your east and west-facing windows. Protect south-facing windows with deciduous trees or climbing foliage so you can take advantage of low-angle sun in the winter, when the leaves fall. New windows on those walls that get the most summer sun should have low-e glazings to block unwanted heat gain.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Consider replacing inefficient appliances that give off a lot of heat. Especially consider replacing or discarding old or auxiliary refrigerators.
When replacing your roof or painting your house, using light-colored or other "cool" roofing and siding products can reduce your peak cooling demand by 10-15%. There are a number of roofing products that can dramatically cut down on heat gain without blinding the neighbors. Start by looking for ENERGY STAR Reflective Roof Products.
To keep high-angle summer sun out, consider horizontal trellises for your east and west-facing windows. Protect south-facing windows with deciduous trees or climbing foliage so you can take advantage of low-angle sun in the winter, when the leaves fall. New windows on those walls that get the most summer sun should have low-e glazings to block unwanted heat gain.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Cool with Air Movement and Ventilation
Fans use less energy than air conditioning and can be adequate for attaining desired comfort levels unless you live in a very humid climate.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Fans use less energy than air conditioning and can be adequate for attaining desired comfort levels unless you live in a very humid climate.
- Ceiling fans. Ceiling fans cool by creating a low-level “wind chill” effect throughout a room. As long as indoor humidity isn’t stifling, they can be quite effective. Just remember that a fan cools people—it doesn’t actually reduce room temperature—so turn it off when you leave the room. Look for ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans.
- House fans. Unless you live in a very humid climate, installing a large fan in your top-floor ceiling is a very effective way of cooling your whole house down without central AC. These fans suck air through the house, inducing a strong draft in rooms where windows are open as it pulls cooler, outdoor air inside. Check with your local home improvement retailer about available products and installation.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Keep Your Attic Cool
You can take simple steps to cool your home from the top down:
Learn more at the U.S. Green Building Council
You can take simple steps to cool your home from the top down:
- In hot summer climates, attic radiant barriers can help keep homes comfortable and reduce cooling bills. Made of a reflective foil, radiant barriers block the transfer of radiant heat from a hot roof into the attic. In the Southeast, radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs by 8% to 12%, according to the Florida Solar Energy Center.
- Improving the ventilation in your attic can lower the temperature of the entire house.
- Solar-powered attic fans exhaust hot air and help keep your home comfortable while reducing cooling costs. There is no need for electrical wiring so installation is straightforward.
Learn more at the U.S. Green Building Council
Reduce Energy Use of Your Air Conditioning
Even with the air conditioning on, there are still ways to reduce your energy use:
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy and at Con Edison
Even with the air conditioning on, there are still ways to reduce your energy use:
- If you use central air-conditioning, a programmable thermostat will help you better manage your energy use, so you can turn the air down while you're gone, but set it to cool off again before you come home.
- Always keep all doors and windows closed when operating an air conditioner.
- Don’t cool unoccupied rooms (but don’t shut off too many registers either, or it will put pressure on the system).
- If your room air conditioner has an outside air option, use it sparingly.
- Use drapes, shades, and awnings to shield windows from the hot sun.
- With a ceiling fan, you will probably be comfortable with the thermostat set at about 78°F. Each degree you are able to raise the thermostat, you will save 3–5% on air conditioning costs.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy and at Con Edison
Evaporative Coolers (Swamp Coolers)
Evaporative coolers, sometimes called swamp coolers, are less common than refrigerated air conditioners, but they are a practical alternative in very dry areas, such as the Southwest. They work by pulling fresh outside air through moist pads where the air is cooled by evaporation.
You can get a direct evaporative cooler, which adds moisture to a house (appropriate in very dry climates), or an indirect cooler, which does not. For evaporative coolers to do their job, they must be the right size. The cooling capacity of an evaporative cooler is measured not in the amount of heat it can remove (Btu), but in the fan pressure required to circulate the cool air throughout the house, in cubic feet per minute (cfm). A good rule is to figure the cubic square footage of your house and divide by 2. For example, a 1,500 square foot house with 8 foot-high ceilings would require a 6,000 cfm cooler. A listing of leading manufacturers is available from the Evaporative Cooling Institute.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Evaporative coolers, sometimes called swamp coolers, are less common than refrigerated air conditioners, but they are a practical alternative in very dry areas, such as the Southwest. They work by pulling fresh outside air through moist pads where the air is cooled by evaporation.
You can get a direct evaporative cooler, which adds moisture to a house (appropriate in very dry climates), or an indirect cooler, which does not. For evaporative coolers to do their job, they must be the right size. The cooling capacity of an evaporative cooler is measured not in the amount of heat it can remove (Btu), but in the fan pressure required to circulate the cool air throughout the house, in cubic feet per minute (cfm). A good rule is to figure the cubic square footage of your house and divide by 2. For example, a 1,500 square foot house with 8 foot-high ceilings would require a 6,000 cfm cooler. A listing of leading manufacturers is available from the Evaporative Cooling Institute.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Central AC and Heat Pumps
Central air conditioners and air source heat pumps are both widely used in the U.S. and are the best option for maintaining comfort in areas that experience high humidity. Heat pumps are much more efficient than central air conditioners and can be used very effectively in southeastern states for both heating and cooling. Both central AC and air source heat pumps are rated according to seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). This is the cooling output divided by the power input for a hypothetical average U.S. climate. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner. If you live in a very hot-humid climate, consider the advanced efficiency levels as defined by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). Air conditioners and heat pumps meeting these performance criteria can be found by running a search in the ARI/CEE HVAC Directory.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Central air conditioners and air source heat pumps are both widely used in the U.S. and are the best option for maintaining comfort in areas that experience high humidity. Heat pumps are much more efficient than central air conditioners and can be used very effectively in southeastern states for both heating and cooling. Both central AC and air source heat pumps are rated according to seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). This is the cooling output divided by the power input for a hypothetical average U.S. climate. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner. If you live in a very hot-humid climate, consider the advanced efficiency levels as defined by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). Air conditioners and heat pumps meeting these performance criteria can be found by running a search in the ARI/CEE HVAC Directory.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Individual Air Conditioners
Room air conditioners are sized to cool just one room, so a number of them may be required for a whole house but individual units will cost less to buy than central systems. Room air conditioners are rated only by their energy efficiency rating (EER), which is cooling output divided by power consumption. The higher the EER, the more efficient the air conditioner. ENERGY STAR requirements exceed the federal standards by 10% or more.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Room air conditioners are sized to cool just one room, so a number of them may be required for a whole house but individual units will cost less to buy than central systems. Room air conditioners are rated only by their energy efficiency rating (EER), which is cooling output divided by power consumption. The higher the EER, the more efficient the air conditioner. ENERGY STAR requirements exceed the federal standards by 10% or more.
- The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recommends an EER of at least 10.8. Check the ENERGY STAR list to find qualified products.
- ENERGY STAR provides a chart to help find the cooling capacity appropriate for your room.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Maintaining Cooling System for Optimum Performance
The filter in a central air conditioner should never be allowed to get dirty enough to impede air flow, as this could cause damage to the unit. The condenser should be cleaned by a professional every other year or even yearly in dusty locations. Filters in room AC units can simply be removed (typically located behind the air inlet grill) and rinsed to remove trapped dust. Many modern units have an indicator alerting you to when the filter needs to be cleaned. Otherwise, it is a good idea to check the filter every couple of months during the summer.
Hire a professional technician to inspect, clean, and tune your system every 2-3 years.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
The filter in a central air conditioner should never be allowed to get dirty enough to impede air flow, as this could cause damage to the unit. The condenser should be cleaned by a professional every other year or even yearly in dusty locations. Filters in room AC units can simply be removed (typically located behind the air inlet grill) and rinsed to remove trapped dust. Many modern units have an indicator alerting you to when the filter needs to be cleaned. Otherwise, it is a good idea to check the filter every couple of months during the summer.
Hire a professional technician to inspect, clean, and tune your system every 2-3 years.
- During service of your unit, its refrigerant may need recharging. This correction can improve system efficiency by 20%.
- The technician should measure airflow over the indoor coil. Correcting airflow rates can improve efficiency another 5–10%.
- Proper sealing and insulation can reduce cooling energy use by 10–15%.
Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
