Qustion: Other than setting the thermostat to a higher temperature, what is the most efficient way to use an air conditioner? For example, should I turn it on just when it’s hot, or cool the house before a heat wave comes so the AC doesn’t have to work so hard?
You’re on the right track for energy savings. If you set the thermostat to a higher temperature, you’ll use less energy. You’ll know what’s comfortable for you, but 75 to 78 degrees is a good, energy-efficient range. ENERGY STAR® recommendations suggest raising it 4 degrees at bedtime and 7 degrees when you’re going to be out of the house for more than two hours. A programmable thermostat can make these energy-saving settings automatic.
Keep in mind that if it’s a really hot day, it may not make sense to raise the temperature while you’re at work, because then it may take too long to cool down. (Luckily, here in northwest Oregon, we usually don’t have too many sweltering days.)
Here are a few more tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure your furniture and drapes are not blocking the cooled air coming from your air vents.
- Try using fans in combination with air conditioning. You may be able to set your thermostat higher without sacrificing any comfort.
- Perform regular maintenance on your air conditioning system. See this maintenance checklist from ENERGY STAR.
- If your central air conditioner is more than 12 years old, replace it with an ENERGY STAR-qualified model, and you could cut cooling costs by 30 percent.* You might want to consider a high-efficiency heat pump, which provides summer cooling and efficient heating, too.
- When buying a room air conditioner, make sure it’s the proper size for the room you want to cool. If it’s too big, it will work harder and cost more. Look for an EER (energy efficiency ratio) of 11 or higher for room air conditioners. And make sure it’s ENERGY STAR-qualified.
- To keep a room air conditioner running most efficiently, don’t switch it on and off frequently; it will work best when left to run for long periods. Also, don’t keep it running at the coldest setting.
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