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"Air conditioners are costly to operate."
The average electrical cost of running a normal-sized room air conditioner on
the hottest day of the summer is only about 48¢. Plus air conditioners also
filter and dehumidify air. So stay cool all summer... and relax! You're
spending a lot less than you'd think! (Assumptions - a 9000-BTU room air
conditioner is on for about 8 hours a day, drawing 1050 watts power maximum,
averaging 0.90 kWh/hour of use, with the average cost per kWh at 6.6¢. A
9000-BTU unit is usually suitable for cooling an area of 300 to 650 sq. ft.)
Air conditioning tips:
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Bigger is not always better. Correctly match unit power and size of room.
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Listen to unit operating. Some are louder than others.
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Look for Energy Efficiency Rating (EER). The higher the EER, the more efficient
the unit.
"Air out your house every day in the winter since fresh air is easier to heat
than stale air."
While you always need fresh air in your house, it is not easier to heat. By
opening your windows and doors, you let in cold air that has to be heated and
let out air that is already warm. If you feel your house lacks proper
ventilation, open a window slightly, use bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans or
consider a more sophisticated ventilation system.
"Don't shut off lights in rooms you will have to go into several times during
the evening."
The switching process itself does not use extra energy. You save energy by
switching lights off even if you are leaving the room for a short period.
"I keep my freezer in an unheated garage so that in the winter, spring and
fall, it doesn't have to work as hard."
It is actually easier on the motor and compressor of your freezer if the
temperature is constant. Fluctuating temperatures are hard on the motor. The
best location for a freezer is a basement where the surrounding air is cool.
"I unplug things like the toaster, blender, etc. when not in use."
Most appliances that are switched off do not use electricity even when they are
plugged in. The exception is an appliance with an instant-on feature or a
built-in clock, which consumes electrical energy even if shut off.
"Take a shower instead of a bath because a shower uses less water."
This depends on how long you like to shower and whether or not you have an
energy-efficient shower head. To find out which uses more water for you, try a
simple test. The next time you shower, plug the drain and let the water stay in
the tub. At the end of your normal shower, check the water level. Is there more
or less water than you use for a bath?
"Use plastic deflectors where ducts are beneath windows."
This doesn't save any energy and can easily make the room less comfortable.
Warm air registers are placed under windows to combat the cold air coming from
the window. If air deflectors are used, they may create drafts by deflecting
the warm air out and away from cold air at the window.
"I keep my thermostat at the same level all winter. Changing it frequently uses
more energy."
If you turn down your heat when you go to bed and turn it up again in the
morning, you will save money and energy. Do not, however, turn your thermostat
down if you are just leaving the house on a short errand, and will be gone less
than two hours.
"When getting up at night, use a flashlight to avoid flicking the lights on and
off and use battery-operated clocks and radios."
The cost of light from a flashlight is very expensive compared to electricity.
It takes energy to make a battery and the amount of energy in the battery is
very limited. Batteries lose their charge even when not being used. When you
discard them, they can be an environmental hazard because they contain small
amounts of mercury which can get into the ground.
"I turn off my electric hot water heater when I go away for the weekend (or
overnight) to save money."
There are very little energy savings involved when turning your water heater
off. Electric water heaters are well insulated so that they retain heat for a
long time.
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