I have central air conditioning, which is really nice when it’s hot. However, it really increases my electric bill. What can I do to save this summer?
Be sure to have a qualified technician tune up your home’s cooling system every couple of years. The technician also can advise you whether your central air conditioner needs to be replaced with a more energy energy-efficient model or a heat pump.
According to Energy Star, “If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star-qualified model could cut your cooling costs by 30 percent.”
A tune-up should include checking refrigerant levels and recharging if needed; checking for leaks; cleaning, oiling and inspecting the motor; checking the cooling coils and changing or cleaning the air filter.
“Clean filters are every bit as important for cooling as for heating,” said Rick Cantonwine, Clark Public Utilities energy counselor. “Plugged filters are a common cause of poor cooling and cause extra wear on the equipment.”
Before each cooling season, check around the outdoor unit and keep it clear of grass, leaves or shrubs. It needs at least four to five feet of space to properly draw air.
“Shading your house makes a difference in how much your air conditioner has to work,” Cantonwine said. “If you don’t have trees that shade the house, use window coverings or awnings to block the sun’s heat. You’ll also protect your furniture and carpeting from fading.”
Ceiling insulation is important in summer, too. If your home has enough, you’ll most likely be able to get by for a couple of consecutive hot days without running the air conditioner at all.
“If your attic doesn’t have an R-38 level of insulation — or close to it — it’s a good idea to add some,” Cantonwine said.
Sealing ductwork is another critical part to saving energy. Energy Star estimates that homeowners lose 20 percent of conditioned air because of poorly sealed ductwork. That’s like tossing 20 cents of every dollar into your hot attic or crawl space.
Incentives available
Today’s financial incentives make it is a good time to upgrade your home’s cooling system and perform energy-related home improvements.
Clark Public Utilities will give a customer with an electrically heated home up to $750 when they install a qualifying air source heat pump, and $2,000 on a geothermal heat pump. If you install a ductless heat pump in a house with zonal electric heat, you can get $1,500. We also offer incentives for insulation and other weatherization measures.
In addition, a federal tax credit of 30 percent — up to $1,500 — is available through December for such improvements as insulation, central air conditioners, heat pumps and windows.
The Energy Adviser is written by members of the energy counselor team of Clark Public Utilities, who provide conservation and energy use information to utility customers. Send questions to energyadviser@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA. 98668. A panel of local energy efficiency and energy product specialists will review your questions. Previous topics are available at http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
