Earth Day: 4 Energy Efficient Cooling Tips

Save Money And Help Our Environment This Earth Day

When it comes to protecting and preserving our earth, it’s easy to slip into the mindset that our individual actions have little to no impact. Adopting this thought process is dangerous because it discourages a person from so much as attempting to better their environment. This Earth Day, we want to remind you that every little bit counts. By simply making a few adjustments around the house and being more mindful, you can help sustain our environment, not to mention we think you’ll enjoy the savings on your monthly cooling costs!

1. Schedule Your Spring A/C Tune-Up

We cannot press this one enough. When you put off maintenance, your system will experience a buildup of dirt, debris and grime, which decreases efficiency and harms your indoor air quality. This mass accumulation forces your system to kick into over-drive to keep up with your comfort demands, which means greater energy usage and higher utility costs. Check out our full post on the importance of scheduling routine tune-ups! Don’t wait until your air conditioner fails to schedule service. Keep cool all summer long by scheduling your tune-up with Interstate today!

2. Change Your HVAC Air Filter Regularly

Dirty air filters raise cooling costs by up to seven percent in hotter climates and are the number one cause of breakdowns in the summer. The best way to determine when your filter should be changed is by reading your manufacturer’s manual. Some require you to change the filter out every 30 days, while others say 60 to 90. If you have pets, we recommend changing it out every 30 days. Even if you don’t have household pets, it’s a good idea to still inspect your air filter every 30 days. If it’s dirty, go ahead and replace it.

3. Install More Ceiling Fans

You can cut costs but not comfort by installing ceiling fans throughout your home. We haven’t quite reached sweltering temperatures here in OKC, so you can get away with running your ceiling fan instead of your air conditioner. When it does get unbearably hot outside, you can use your ceiling fan in conjunction with your A/C system, just make sure your thermostat is set to a higher temperature. Because of the fan’s chill factor, a given room could feel up to five degrees cooler than what the thermostat is set to.

Pro Tip: It’s important to remember that ceiling fans cool skin, not rooms. Always turn your fan off when leaving the room!

4. Keep Your Curtains Closed

Excess light in your home can make a room feel extremely hot, prompting you to turn your thermostat way down. Prevent hot spots and lower cooling costs by keeping your curtains and window shades closed during the day. If you don’t already have black-out curtains installed throughout your home, now is the time to do so. For additional energy efficient window treatments, check out this article from Energy.gov!

Turn these Earth Day tips into habits. You can find out more information on being energy efficient by checking out these resources:

• Energy.gov’s “Fans for Cooling”
• TXU’s “Heating & Cooling Tips”
• ENERGY STAR’s “Heat & Cool Efficiently”

For information or assistance with HVAC efficiency, give Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 405-794-8900.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to learn more about maintaining a safe and energy-efficient home. Should heating, cooling or indoor air quality troubles arise, don’t hesitate to call us or schedule service online.