Cost-Effective Ways to Cool Your Home

Cost-Effective Ways to Cool Your Home

As the temperature rises, therefore will the price of cooling your home. However a brand new federal law might facilitate keep your home each cool and cost-efficient.

In January, the U.S. Department of Energy raised the minimum potency standards for air conditioners and warmth pumps from ten to thirteen SEERS (Seasonal Energy potency Ratio). Though owners are not needed to interchange systems that square measure but thirteen SEERS, doing therefore may shave twenty three pace off energy bills.

Think of SEER ratings like gas mileage: the upper the SEER or miles per gallon, the additional energy "mileage" you get. Therefore as SEER levels rise, your cooling and heating product use less energy, supplying you with additional bang for your buck whereas providing real environmental advantages through slashed energy consumption.

"The new thirteen SEER normal not solely conserves energy however it additionally reduces associated carbonic acid gas emissions," says Rick Retaken, director of promoting at Indianapolis-based Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems.

Bryant recently introduced a new line of thirteen SEER models that offer very good savings, potency and luxury. The improved top-of-the-line Evolution System reaches levels of up to twenty SEER whereas permitting users to regulate heating, cooling, humidity, indoor air quality, schedules and maintenance reminders from a single, easy-to-navigate supply.

To keep your home cooling system at peak potency, Retaken recommends having it inspected a minimum of once a year by a trained service technician. Here square measure some further tips:

* Install additional attic insulation. Upgrading from three inches to twelve inches will cut cooling prices by ten p.c.

* Plant a tree. One well-placed tree will scale back your cooling prices by twenty five p.c. Place ivied shade trees to the south and west and evergreens to the north.

* Use ceiling and box fans to assist flow into air throughout the house.

* Set the fan on your central air conditioning to "on" instead of "auto." this can flow into air unceasingly, keeping the temperature constant throughout the house and aiding in dehumidification.

* If you utilize a window air-con unit, check that it is the correct size. It's higher to urge one that is too tiny instead of overlarge. A bigger unit can start off and switch off additional oftentimes and will not do nearly as good employment dehumidifying the air.

* Invest during a programmable thermostat.

* If you do not have central air-con, strive a whole-house exhaust fan. This device pushes hot air out through the attic vents, lowering the temperature throughout your home by regarding five degrees in but ten minutes.