Be Energy Smart with Art
Can an electrician near me provide advice on energy efficiency in my home, you ask? After years of work in the industry, Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric has lots of valuable advice to share on the topic of saving energy. These simple tips are easy to put into practice, and will not only save you money on your electricity bills, but will also decrease your carbon footprint.
Ensuring your AC system is energy efficient
Florida’s scorching summers can take their toll on your energy consumption, especially when you’re running your AC all day. Studies indicate that cooling costs can contribute up to roughly half of your electricity bill in summer. By following the advice below, you can keep your family cool and your electricity bill low during the hottest months of the year:
- Install a programmable thermostat so that you can set up an AC schedule which is most efficient for the season. It is advisable that you set your thermostat to be raised automatically at night, when the temperature is cooler. Programmable thermostats are usually temperature-sensitive and so will raise the temperature automatically once your house has cooled down.
- Consider installing a ‘smart thermostat’ which can connect to the internet so that you can control your AC remotely. This means that when you’ve forgotten to turn your AC off, you can still switch it off from wherever you are. Smart thermostats can also optimize your AC system settings for minimal energy consumption.
- Make sure that your AC system undergoes routine maintenance to avoid unnecessary energy wastage which might result from clogged filters or leaking ducts. An AC tune up can go a long way in ensuring that your AC system is performing with optimal efficiency.
- If your AC system doesn’t have a high SEER rating, you might want to replace it with a more energy efficient system. A SEER rating measures how much cooling your unit provides in relation to how much energy it consumes. A higher rating translates into greater energy efficiency. The Department of Energy requires that all installations of new AC units have a rating of at least 14 SEER.
Use your appliances wisely to reduce energy consumption
Don’t underestimate the difference which a few small changes to your household appliances can make to your electric bill. Take the following steps to reduce energy use:
- Install ceiling fans to use as an alternative to AC for an hour or two each day.
- Replace any incandescent bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or LEDS, which are between 50-70% more energy efficient.
- Reduce the amount of time for which your pool pump runs each day.
- Avoid doing half-loads of washing, as they do not consume significantly less energy than full loads. If you need to do a half load, change the water settings on your washing machine to match the load size. Use a cold rinse.
- Air-dry your clothes. If you need to use the dryer, make sure that you clear out the lint trap after each use. A clogged lint trap will result in your clothes taking longer to dry and may present a fire hazard.
Helpful habits for energy saving
While there are plenty of changes which you can make in your home to ensure energy efficiency, the most important change you can make is to shift your mindset and become energy conscious. Don’t leave lights or fans on unnecessarily, unplug chargers and monitors when not in use, and be proactive with regard to your AC unit maintenance. By incorporating these habits into your daily life, you’ll be saving energy in no time at all!
