AC Efficiency

Energy efficiency should be the deciding factor, as High efficiency appliances cost less to operate and can pay back the extra initial cost many times over during their lifetimes. All air conditioners bear bright yellow Energy Guide labels which provide information on energy efficiency.

Efficient Toilets

Toilets use the most water in your bathroom. Get a low flow toilet.  If you have purchased a home with a pre-installed 1.6 gpf model, there’s no way of knowing whether the previous owner made any such inefficient modifications.  The parts usually last around 5 years so be sure to ask the hardware store for 1.6 gpf replacements.

Extreme Home Makeover

Weather Strip All Door and Windows

Close all unnecessary openings. Fireplace dampers, doors and windows.
Set thermostat to 780 F.
Use kitchen and exhaust fans sparingly.

Maintenance and Operation

A dusty filter reduces air flow. Once a month you should check your filters and replace when necessary.
Room units should be covered or removed and stored in the winter.
Check for clogged drain channels.
Holes in the seal between the air conditioner and the window frame allows cool air to escape from your home.
Coils can become clogged.  Use a vacuum for the interior heat exchanger and a garden hose for the exterior.
Install a timer for when you are away, the until turns on a half hour before you return.
Make sure furniture does not obstruct air conditioning vents.
Make sure central air conditioning ducts are properly insulated

AC Installation

An improperly installed unit will waste energy, so please use these installation tips:
*Install the unit in a shaded spot on the house’s north side or east side because direct sunshine on the units outdoor
exchanger decreases efficiency.
*If your unit is already exposed to the sun, use a shading device like an awning.
*Do not hide unit’s external part behind shrubbery, this reduces the units ability to exhaust air, lowering efficiency

AC Size

Bigger is not always better. A unit that is too large will not cool an area uniformly and it will cool too quickly causing the unit to turn on and off too frequently. A unit that is too small will run constantly on hot days and still not be able to cool the area adequuately.
In sizing an air conditioner for your home, consider the dimensions of the area to be cooled . An air conditioner generally needs 20 Btu for each square foot of living space. A room that is 15 feet wide by 20 feet long you would calculate: 15×20x20(Btu)=6,000 Btu capacity would be required.

Air Conditioning Tips

Air conditioning does more than cool the air, it “conditions” it by removing dust and dirt as the air is drawn through a filter.  It also lowers humidity, making the room more comfortable.  Central Air Conditioners cost more than Room Units, but you if have several rooms to be cooled, the the central system is the best buy.  Room units  are less expensive, but they only cool the general space in which they are located.

Faucets

Your bathroom sink faucet must use 2.2 gallons per minute or less. You  can increase your tap’s efficiency with a 1.5 gpm aerator, available at any local hardware store.

Save water without spending a dime
1. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
2. Fill a mild carton jug with stones and place it in your toilet tank to displace the water.
3. Use an egg timer from your kitchen to cut showers down to 5 minutes.
4. Turn off the water while shaving.
5. Fix toilet and faucet leaks immediately.
6. Don’t use your toilet as a trash can.
7. Collect “warm up” water to irrigate your lawn and flowerbeds.
8. Conserve energy.  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates .47 gallons of water are lost for
every kilowatt-hour of power generated by coal power plants.

Wasteful Showers

Beware of multi-head shower systems, some can spew an astonishing 80 gallons per minute.  Showers are rife with opportunities for waste, thanks to easy manipulation of low-flow shower heads.

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