Nobody wants to spend a ton of money on their energy bill. However, in the summer months, you likely expect that bill to go up because you’re going to be running the AC just to stay comfortable.
If you’re like most people, you’ve done some research on how you can save energy, or at the very least, see articles on the internet about energy saving. Unfortunately many of the tips you’re going to get on the internet, and maybe even in magazines and newspapers, are outdated and not really helpful.
Take note of these five energy-saving myths and avoid them in your home this year.
Myth #1: Leave Your Lights on and Save
You’ve probably heard that one path to energy saving involves leaving lights on, at least if you’re not going to be out of the room for long. The problem with this information is that it’s outdated and not really right for residential spaces anyway.
The myth that simply leaving your lights on is actually ideal for energy saving comes from industrial spaces where large fluorescent lights used to take five or more minutes to come on while using huge amount of electricity. Newer fluorescent lights in industrial spaces, and certainly the ones in your home, come on in less than a second and it doesn’t take much energy at all.
Flip your lights off when you leave the room and get into the habit now to save.
Myth #2: Lower Thermostat, Faster Cooling
A lot of people believe that they can cool their home or apartment faster by simply turning down the thermostat. If you want it to be 72-degrees inside, turn the thermostat down to 60 and you’ll get there faster. At least that’s the idea.
Unfortunately, this just doesn’t work since most AC units don’t put out more cool air – they just run for a longer period of time. That’s not going to help you get cool faster, and you’ll probably fall below a comfortable temperature and end up paying more for your AC.
Instead, get a programmable thermostat and use it wisely to keep your house comfortable throughout the summer. You can also raise the temperature when you’re at work and set it to come back down again before you get home.
Myth #3: Ceiling Fans Cool Rooms
Ceiling fans use a lot less energy than an AC unit, so that part isn’t a myth. What is a myth though is the information that you’ve probably heard before – a ceiling can help to cool a room without the AC.
The fact is that ceiling fans don’t lower the air temperature. Instead, they create a wind chill, since air hitting the surface of the skin will make you feel cooler.
For you, that means that a ceiling fan should only be used when you’re in a room that’s too warm.
Myth #4: Closing AC Vents Boosts Efficiency
Your home probably has at least one or two rooms you don’t spend much time in. That statement is likely especially true if you’re out of your home at work throughout the day and there’s nobody there. After all, if you’re working, you only have a few waking hours inside your house.
That’s why many people have given the advice of closing AC vents in rooms that aren’t used. The idea is that if the cool air doesn’t escape into those rooms then it will make it to rooms that you actually are in, making you considerably more comfortable for less money.
The problem is that this doesn’t really work because of the way most duct systems in residential homes work. If the air doesn’t escape into an unused room, it will simply not go anywhere at all. Basically, you’ll have really cool ductwork but a warm house.
Leave your AC vents open in every room. At least you’ll get some of that residual AC in the hallways and cool air moving throughout your whole home.
Myth #5: Your Computer Should Stay On
You’ve probably heard that leaving your computer on saves energy and is better for your computer, but that really isn’t true. At least not anymore.
10-plus years ago computers weren’t designed to withstand regular on-and-off cycles, but today they can go on and off several times per day without any serious problems. They’re made to be turned on and off, in fact.
Get in the habit of switching your computer off unless you’re coming right back to it.
Summer is a time of year when you need to use your AC, and that can get expensive. To cut costs, you need to make sure you have an AC unit that runs as efficiently as possible. Stop by and see us at our store, or call Snyder Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electric to let us help you find the best AC unit for your home this summer!
