It`s hot and sticky out there and the utility bill you just got for cooling your home is making you even hotter. But you can cut energy costs and still keep your cool with a little planning.
For starters, keep your air conditioner at peak efficiency by cleaning filters once a month to maximize air flow. Position lamps, television sets and other heat-generating appliances away from the air conditioner thermostat.
Test for air leaks by holding a lighted candle near window and door frames. If the flame flickers, you need to weatherstrip and caulk to keep cool air from escaping. Close any energy-stealing openings such as fireplace dampers.
When buying an air conditioner, check the unit`s energy efficiency rating (EER). The higher the number, the more efficient the air conditioner. Units with an EER of 9 or higher are recommended, says Bea Meltzer, a Commonwealth Edison spokeswoman.
For example, it would cost about $80 to run a unit with an EER of 9 for 500 hours in the summer and $62 for one with an EER of 11.6.
What size should you buy? That depends on the room`s dimensions, the thickness of exterior walls, the number of windows and doors and whether the room faces north, east, south or west.
While air conditioners can do major damage to your utility bill, refrigerators and other appliances use plenty of energy, too. And lighting, which many people dismiss as a minor energy user, accounts for 25 percent of the nation`s energy bill.
Lighting contributes heat as well as using energy. Wherever possible, switch to energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs, which screw into most standard light sockets. The bulbs last 10 times as long as incandescents and use 75 percent less energy.
