Quick Tips for Spring/Summer Energy:

Air it out! Cooler springtime evenings can provide useful “flushing” of heat from the day and allowing you to keep from running your air conditioner until later in the season.

Control the sun.  If your drapes and shades are closed during the brightest and hottest parts of the day, you may cut up to 25% of your air conditioning demands. 

Air Conditioner / Heat Pump Tune-up.  If you did not have your system serviced in the fall (heat pump owners), or can not remember the last time you’re A/C unit was checked, now is the time to schedule that much needed service visit.  Don’t put this off until the hot weather arrives, since it may take longer for a contractor to get out to your home to help you.

Change your filters.  Your furnace and A/C or heat pump air-handler filter is likely to need changing after the harsh winter’s demand on your forced air system. Consider using a “pleated media” filter (better dust trapping) or a “web” type element filter that can be washed periodically, instead of being thrown out.

Better Ventilation Cooling.  Check your bathroom and kitchen vent fans to make sure they are working properly and are not blocked or obstructed.

Install ceiling fans in major common areas of the home (family room, kitchen, and upstairs rooms). This circulates the air to keep it cooler.

Focus on Heat Pumps.  In homes with heat pump systems (air source) be sure to clear left over leaves or debris away from the outdoor unit.

Consider a digital thermostat:  Digital clock thermostats can adjust A/C temperature settings throughout the day. This allows you to take advantage of “time-of-use” utility rates (cheaper during one part of the day than others) and “pre-cool” your home, so it can coast through the times of expensive power.

If your home has a heat pump for cooling instead of an air conditioning/furnace system, it is usually recommended to leave the A/C setting constant like at 76 or 78 degrees. Make sure the packaging is clearly marked as “works on heat pumps,” otherwise it may not operate the system at all. 

Insulated ventilated attics.  If you frequently feel lots of excess heat in the upstairs areas of a two-story home or if it feels hot “from above” in the evening in a ranch style home, chances are you may not have sufficient attic insulation combined with poor ventilation. Attics should have between 9-12 inches of insulation.

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