It’s Getting Hot, Hot, Hot!

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector   
Urban Sustainability Agent  

Despite our love for Florida, we’re not always happy to endure the long hot summer. Home air conditioning (AC), a modern luxury, accounts for more than 40% of our utility bill and if your system is not working efficiently, you will spend considerably more. To ensure that you are not overpaying to stay cool this summer, use these simple tips to maximize your savings.

1. Maintenance – AC maintenance is key to protecting your investment and ensuring that you stay cool all summer long. For a fraction of the cost of repairs, an AC professional will check ducts, coils, and overall performance of your AC system. Be sure to use a licensed company when you conduct periodic maintenance on your unit and replace your filters monthly to optimize performance.
2. Thermostat Setting – The recommended indoor temperature during summer months is 780F. Setting your thermostat higher than 78 actually results in increased cooling costs (8% for every degree). To maximize your savings, use ceiling fans and dress appropriately for the summer months – this will help you to feel cool even if you set the thermostat up 1 or 2 degrees. Remember that ceiling fans cool people not rooms.
   Installing and using a programmable thermostat will help you regulate the temperature settings while you are away at work and when you are asleep. Look for the Energy Star label and ensure that the unit is compatible with your AC system. 
3. Window treatments – To minimize the work that the AC system must do, shade windows that are facing the sun. You may use window curtains, blinds, or window film to help reduce the cooling load – this means that your AC will work less to keep your house cool.
4. Control moisture – Warm air enters your home through poorly sealed windows and doors, kitchen and bath vents, and through entry/exit openings. To reduce heat and humidity entering your home, be sure to seal any visible cracks and openings in your windows and doors and use your kitchen and bath fans sparingly.
5. System Upgrade – There are many factors that go into upgrading the AC system, e.g. unit efficiency, number of occupants in the home, and occupant lifestyle. The SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is an indication of how efficient the AC system could be. Federal regulation mandates a minimum SEER 13 for residential air conditioners – upgrading from a 9 SEER to 13 SEER can reduce your air conditioning costs by over 30%. Be sure to hire a licensed contractor to upgrade your unit and remember that “bigger is not always better” – your contractor can help you choose the appropriate unit for your home.

Following these simple, cost-effective tips during the upcoming hot summer months will help you stay cool, avoid costly repairs, and save money on your utility bills. For much more information about air conditioning in your Florida home, check out this EDIS publication.

Resources:

Department of Energy
Energy Star
Florida Building Code
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Cool It!

James Stevenson,
Pinellas County Extension Specialist,
Urban Sustainability

Can you feel the hot breath of summer on your neck? Yes, another beautiful and enviable winter and spring are soon to be a thing of the past. We shall will soon be cranking-down the temperatures in our homes to do battle with the heat and humidity that Central Florida is famous for (but would you want to live anywhere else??)

It is a perfect time to make sure your cooling system is operating as efficiently as possible so you won’t be leaking $20 bills through cracks in your system. Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) accounts for more than 40% of the average home’s energy bill (FCS3262, 2008.)

Of course one of the easiest things to do to improve your system’s efficiency is to change the air filter(s) associated with your system. This allows the system to operate without having to draw (work) harder to get air through the ductwork.

Another simple task is to make sure the outdoor unit (condenser) is not obstructed by plants or structures that might impede air flow. A tree shading the unit helps keep it a bit cooler, making its job easier, but fallen leaves clogging the in and out flow can decrease efficiency. Check the owner’s manual and make sure the power is shut off to the unit if you intend to do any work to clear debris from the surface.

The indoor unit of the AC is the air handler. This is where the real chilling takes place. Within this unit is the evaporator coil which is a virtual dust magnet. This coil is often moist due to normal condensation. The moisture traps dust and dirt and must be kept clean to work efficiently. Again, refer to your owner’s manual and shut the power off to the unit if you intend to do this easy maintenance.

There are other common-sense measures you can take to keep your system running smoothly. Draw the blinds across west-facing windows to shield them from blaring afternoon sun. Use ceiling fans (only when you are in the room.) A thermostat set at 78˚ will feel like 74˚ with the cooling breeze created by these Florida fixtures. Installing a an EnergyStar® rated programmable thermostat is another DIY task that could help make your system run more efficiently and save you some money! Click here for advice on choosing a programmable thermostat.

Beyond these simple tasks, unit maintenance is really best left to the professionals. Luckily our local power company will pay 50% up to $30 to for a qualified participating contractor to inspect your entire duct system. Leaks in duct work can result in huge losses to a system’s efficiency. Should you require any repair work to your duct work (and by the way, despite its name that magic tape is NOT suitable for repairing duct work) Progress Energy will pay up to $150 for repairs to ducts. For more information on these incentives, click here.

Keeping your HVAC system running smoothly and efficiently will certainly help you save on your energy bill, and doing so will contribute to a wider-ranging savings on energy consumption throughout our area.

Resources:

UF/IFAS Energy Efficient Homes: Air Conditioning
EnergyStar Heating and Cooling
Progress Energy