Want to slash the electricity bill this summer?
The majority of people do not know that their air conditioner uses the most amount of energy in your home. During warmer climates, it can account for over 50% of your monthly bill.
Here's the good news:
You can easily slash your energy usage without melting in the summer. Most of these tips are free and some can be done this weekend.
Here are the best energy efficiency tips beginning with "C" for cooling system – where the savings are at!
What you'll discover:
Why Your Cooling System Drives Your Energy Bill
Air conditioning consumes a significant portion of the home energy budget.
The U. S. Energy Information Administration says that air conditioning consumes approximately 19% of electricity in U.S. residences. That translates to about 254 billion kilowatt-hours annually.
And it gets bigger…
Arizona, Florida and Texas spend far more than that. In these hotter states, summer cooling can comprise the majority of your total electric bill.
Therefore, if you desire a reduced energy bill, your cooling system would be the wisest place to begin.
The Hidden Cost Of An Inefficient AC
An old or poorly maintained central air system is a money pit.
It lasts longer, cycles more and consumes way more electricity than it should. Even worse, it has a tendency to fail at the most inconvenient time possible – typically during a heat wave.
Here's what that means in dollars:
Dirty coils, low refrigerant or a worn capacitor can sneakily increase energy consumption by 20-30% before showing any visible signs. By the time the system quits cooling your home, hundreds of dollars of wasted electricity is already spent.
It's precisely for this reason that scheduling your central air repair early is one of the best decisions you can make as a homeowner. You prevent small problems from turning into larger efficiency losses that compound over time. If you live in a warmer climate, investing in annual tune-ups with a reliable AC repair company is the most impactful energy efficient choice you can make.
Ignore central air repair for too long and the bill just keeps creeping up.
Energy Efficiency Tips That Start With Cooling
Now to the actual strategies.
All of these tips have been tested. They are repeatable. And they can produce meaningful savings on your next power bill. Read them all. Pick the ones that apply. Then start with the lowest hanging fruit. Energy efficiency is cumulative. Small victories equal big rewards.
Change The Air Filter Every Month
The cheapest, easiest tip on the entire list.
Dirty filters make your central air system struggle. The blower will cycle longer, the compressor will run more frequently and electricity will be used at higher rates.
The fix is dead simple:
Some homeowners go 6 months+ on filters and then complain why the bill keeps getting higher. Stop it.
Book An Annual Tune-Up
Don't wait until central air repair is needed to think about your system. Many proactive homeowners schedule a tune up before summer begins.
A proper service will:
One unkempt AC unit loses several points of efficiency each year. That's a tremendous increase in energy consumption for the same cooling output over the course of 5 years. Annual maintenance allows the unit to operate near optimum efficiency its entire lifetime.
Install A Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are not a gimmick.
They learn when you are home and away. They back off cooling when you are away and bring the temperature down before you arrive. It pays for itself month after month.
According to ENERGY STAR, a smart thermostat can save around $100 a year on cooling and heating costs.
That's basically free money for a one-time install.
Seal And Insulate The Ductwork
Here's a stat that should make every homeowner pay attention…
Did you know 20-30% of air you pay to move through your duct system leaks out through holes and poorly connected ductwork? That means much of the cool air you pay for is wasted, never reaching your living spaces.
To fix it:
If done correctly, you can increase system efficiency up to 20%. That's a huge gain for an afternoon's work.
Right-Size The System
This tip is huge but often skipped.
An oversized AC short-cycles, wastes energy and never fully dehumidifies your home. An undersized AC runs constantly, never catches up and wears out years sooner than it should.
Before replacing any unit:
If your system is oversized or undersized by just a few tons, your system will run WAY less efficient.
Upgrade To A High-SEER ENERGY STAR Unit
If your existing central air is 10-15 years old then it's time to consider replacement.
ENERGY STAR units today are much more efficient than those available 10 years ago. They consume less electricity, cool your home faster and require fewer repairs.
Install a new high-efficiency unit, sealed ducts, adequate insulation and a smart thermostat and you can realize significant long-term energy savings.
Bringing It All Together
Energy efficiency is not achieved through one major stroke. It's a pile of small, tried and true shifts on top of each other, beginning with the largest consuming system.
The cooling system is where the biggest savings live, so that's where to start:
Do these correctly and you'll decrease your electric bill, increase comfort in your home and keep your AC functioning for many years to come.