As HVAC industry professionals, customers seek our advice on anything electricity-related, even if it's not in regards to their air conditioner. One of the most frequently asked questions is, "How do I save energy?" Technicians should have a general understanding of how to save energy and money in the entire household.
Arm yourself with knowledge to share with your customers, friends, or for use in your own home as well.
- Replace your traditional incandescents with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs). You'll save 80 percent of your lighting energy!
- Switch to a high-efficiency air conditioner. You'll reduce your energy use by 20-50 percent!
- Install a cool-roof in your home. They're specifically created to absorb less heat from the sun so you don't have to crank your AC up to cool your house, saving a significant amount on energy bills.
- Insulate and air seal your home correctly to reduce AC costs.
- Use less hot water for small loads when doing laundry.
- Run the dishwasher with cold water and save the energy it costs to heat the water first.
- Resist drying clothes excessively. You'll save energy and sustain the life of your clothes.
- Install low-flow showerheads and faucets aerators to control hot water usage.
- Choose the right size air conditioner for your home. Oversized equipment costs more money.
- Turn off electronics not in use. This means TV's, stereos and computers, which can produce heat even when turned off.
- Keep your AC unit out of the sun. Locate it in a shady area or cool location.
- Remove the AC unit at the end of cooling season, or cover it with a weatherproof cover and fill any cracks around the unit with removable caulk.
- Resist setting the thermostat at high initially. Setting it colder than normal or medium will not cool the room faster.
- Consider fireplace inserts or covers to reduce heat loss during cold months.
Quick electricity facts
- Lighting makes up about 10 percent of electricity costs
- Air conditioners use about 5 percent of all electricity produced in the United States.
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs can save you $40 to $50 over their lifetime.
- Replacing five frequently used lights in your home with energy-efficient bulbs you can save up to $60 a year
- In the U.S., the major energy sources are petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable energy. Electricity is a secondary energy that is generated from these energy forms.