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The average family spends $1,500 a year on energy bills, nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Many families spend too much for summer cooling, when there are simple steps that can save them energy and money, improve the comfort of their home, and help protect our environment.
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* Breakdown of an average homeowner's annual energy costs. Source: US EPA |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is introducing the ENERGY STAR Cool Your World Campaign, a national effort to educate homeowners on ways to cool their homes smartly with energy-efficient choices — an important step in helping to reduce the risks of global warming.
Fact:
Many simple steps, such as equipment maintenance, use of energy-saving products, and home sealing can save on summer energy bills and improve comfort while also helping to reduce the risks of global warming.
Save this Summer:
- Clean or change your central air conditioner's air filters according to the filter's instructions, and call a contractor for your annual cooling system check up.
- Replace old or broken down central air equipment with high efficiency equipment. Properly sized and installed ENERGY STAR qualified cooling and heating equipment, along with properly sealed ducts, can save as much as 20 percent on annual energy costs.
- Take advantage of times in the day when you don't need your home to stay as cool. If you don't already have a programmable thermostat to adjust your home's temperature automatically at pre-set times, consider taking this step. A programmable thermostat that's earned the ENERGY STAR, when used with its pre-programmed settings, can save about $100 every year in energy costs.
- Turn on a ceiling fan and take the heat off of your cooling system. Using a ceiling fan to cool the room you're in can take the pressure off of your central cooling system if you adjust the temperature on your thermostat by several degrees. It's more expensive to keep an entire house at a desired temperature than to make it feel a few degrees cooler in one or two rooms with a fan. If replacing an old ceiling fan, consider an ENERGY STAR qualified model to save about $100 in energy bills over the lifetime of the fan.
- Seal up gaps and cracks in your home's "envelope" and add insulation. This step will keep the cooled air inside where it belongs and help your cooling equipment perform more efficiently. It will also keep you more comfortable in the winter by stopping uncomfortable drafts. You can do it yourself or you can hire a contractor.
ENERGY STAR and Energy Efficiency:
- When you choose ENERGY STAR, you get a product that protects our environment by meeting strict energy efficiency criteria set by EPA and the Department of Energy. These products offer performance and reliability, while operating more efficiently, saving energy, and reducing our emissions. Look for the blue label.
- Remember that when you purchase a product that runs on energy, there are two price tags: what you pay at the register, and what you pay to operate that product over its lifetime. While you may pay more up front, purchasing energy-efficient products is a smart investment.
How Can I Learn More?
For more details on how to make your entire cooling and heating system more efficient, get the EPA's Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling  (2.0 MB).
More information on energy-efficient heating and cooling.
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