During the summer months, people like to stay as cool as possible, which accounts for a nationwide increase in electricity consumption from June through August each year, although in regions of the Deep South, the “hot” season can run much longer. Then winter rolls around, and although cooling costs go down, since most people like to stay warm in winter, they turn on the heat and still face high power bills each month. So, the question is, how can homeowners keep temperatures comfortable in their homes and do so while saving energy and money?
Central Air Conditioning and Energy Consumption
The heating-and-air system in a home can account for more than half of the home's energy usage, although if the A/C unit is incorrectly sized or installed, this percentage can be much higher.
Between 1978 and 1997, a span of only 19 years, the number of households using central air-conditioning systems increased by 33 percent, from 76.6 million to 101.5 million (DOE, 2000). Now, 12 years later, the numbers are even higher; moreover, the size of houses built in the United States has increased, resulting in even greater demand for central air-conditioning.
Saving Money with Energy-Efficient Homes
Although large on the average, most, if not all, new homes built today use less energy than older homes since standard features include heating-and-air systems that meet strict energy-efficiency criteria established by the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; plus, systems are often equipped with programmable thermostats and retrofitted ducts. (DOE, 2009) However, power bills are still high because, as previously noted, A/C systems account for the largest percentage of energy usage in a home.
Save on Energy Costs by Choosing the "Right" Insulation
If homeowners cannot afford to purchase a new home or replace an entire A/C system, what steps can they take to reduce energy consumption while, at the same time, keeping their homes comfortable?
First and foremost, they should make certain the home is properly insulated because a properly insulated structure does not gain heat or lose coolness as rapidly as a poorly insulated structure, nor does it allow as much cold air to enter through cracks and crevices in the winter, making it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature year round.
If a home is not properly insulated, homeowners should consider either doing it themselves or hiring a professional, but whichever route they take, they should make sure to select insulation based upon its “R-value,” which is the measure of a material's ability to resist heat conduction, and remember that the greater the R-value, the better the material’s insulation ability. If nothing else, homeowners should at least consider re-insulating the attic because, in most houses, the attic is the hottest area, and heat generated in the attic affects the living spaces below and increases demand on the A/C system.
Additional Steps to Save on Energy Costs
Besides utilizing proper insulation, there are steps homeowners can take that will reduce energy consumption but still allow them to maintain a comfortable indoor environment:
- Replace old windows and doors with energy-efficient styles.
- Hang blinds or insulated drapes on windows, porches, or patios that receive direct sunlight, especially in the afternoon, and close them during the summer months.
- Strategically plant trees so they will shade the home.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs (Of course, within a few years, only fluorescent bulbs will be available).
- Turn off incandescent bulbs when they are not in use because, unlike fluorescent bulbs, they generate heat.
- Use ceiling and floor fans to circulate the air in the home, setting it to spin counterclockwise in summer and clockwise in winter.
- Use a room-dehumidifier since dry air feels cooler to skin than moist air.
- Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing in summer and warmer clothing in winter.
Taking just a few of the steps above can help homeowners reduce their power bills, but if they take all the steps, they will experience a significant savings each month of the year while yet remaining cool in summer and warm in winter.
Readers who enjoyed this article might also enjoy "How to Save Money and Cut Expenses."
References:
- U.S. Department of Energy (2009); Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; retrieved June 2, 2009.
- U.S. Department of Energy (2000); The 1997 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Two Decades; Changes in Energy Usage in Residential Housing Units; retrieved June 2, 2009.
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