Reduce Your AC Load Without Breaking a SweatAug. by Marla EsserAs we discussed last time, air conditioning has had an amazing ripple effect with its impact on where and how we live and work. Air conditioning also places a tremendous load on our electric systems and fuel used to produce the electricity needed, especially at the hottest time of the day, when peak load electricity may be needed to keep up with the air conditioning. So what to do?   Just a few things you can do to stay cool and help your wallet, the electricity loads and your community.  Inside your homeService your Air Conditioning system annually.  This preventative maintenance will keep your unit running well and head off bigger issues down the road.Change your filter regularly.  Check your owners’ manual (call me if you need to find it online) for manufacturer’s recommended schedule.  If in doubt, change your filter every 3 months.  Besides helping your AC to run more efficiently, this helps keep your inside air cleaner.

Keep HVAC air supply and return vents clean and free of clutter or obstructions to help optimize efficiency.Install and use ceiling fans. The moving air from the fan makes occupants feel cooler, allowing the thermostat to be set a little higher.  Installing a fan is a beautiful decorative accent as well.  When it’s not too warm, use just the fan (or a freestanding fan) instead of the air conditionerReplace light bulbs with LED bulbs.  They will reduce the load on your air conditioner (traditional incandescent bulbs create a lot of heat!Install and use window treatments.  Window treatments don’t just look good, but they can also help control light and heat – protecting your furnishings and helping reduce your utility bills. Close curtains during the day to prevent heat and solar gain. Blinds and curtains that diffuse or direct the light are especially helpful on east and west windows to help control glare.When buying a new air conditioner, choose an energy –efficient model and have it sized using ACCA certified Manual J and S software to ensure you are getting the best size unit for your home. 

Every house and its residents is unique and requires this step to ensure this large investment is the best one. Learn more about choosing an air conditioner.Outside your homePlant trees near your home to provide shade and keep it naturally cool.Keep outside Air Conditioning (or heat pump) unit (the condenser) clean and free of clutter or obstructions to help optimize efficiency.Shade your outside Air Conditioning (or heat pump) unit. You may wish to consult a professional for the best way to do this since you do want to obstruct the unit and they put off quite a breeze when operating.frigidaire ac heater wall unitTo read more about keeping your cool this summer, check out my blog on HomeNav Home Cooling Tips That Help You Beat The Heat.  vrf air conditioning unitsHere’s to keeping your cool the rest of this summer!friedrich heating and cooling wall units

, .Articles referenced:History of Air ConditioningAir Conditioning Made the South What It Is, by David ShiCentral Air Conditioning, EPAKids Guide to Climate Change, EPAChoosing an Air ConditionerTopics: Heating & Cooling Marla Esser / Marla works with home builders, architects and homeowners to differentiate their homes with the value and benefits of green or high performance. From her work creating an online owners’ manual for green and greener homes to her work in national and local businesses, groups and associations, she has learned about linkages between homes, people and businesses. Marla offers a unique perspective of these connections and linkages especially between home building, women in business and homes, as well as entrepreneurial/small business groups. People work with her for this unique perspective to help voice the value and benefits of homes, especially connecting with women in the equation, to sell or invest better and at higher value. wwwSponsored Links:Related ContentLatest Contentcomments powered by Subscribe To Our NewsletterNEWSGBCI Announces 2016 LEED FellowsSpray Foam Industry Leader Supports Climate Goals to Save the Ozone LayerWhat Your Location Can Mean For Home Construction TypesAlabama Leads the U.S. with Largest Number of FORTIFIED HomesHERO Financing Program Driving Residential Solar AdoptionAmazon Expands Alexa Home Voice Control SystemsPumps solve home water pressure problemsSee More »WHITE PAPERSHigh Performance Homes

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Low VOC and No VOC Passive HousePrefabricated Homes / Systems Built Homes / Modular Homes Proud Green Home at Serenbe Proud Green Home of Louisville Proud Green Home of St. Louis Radiant Heat Rebates / Tax Credits Remodeling Roofing Siding Solar Power Sustainability Trends & Statistics Sustainable Communities Tankless Water Heaters Thermal Envelope Ventilation Wastewater Treatment Water Filtration & Water Quality Water Heaters Water Saving Devices WaterSense WindowsBut as heat wave wears on, cooling units are flying off shelves | “We keep getting shipments in, and we sell right out,” says Robin Conway, who works in the appliance department of Home Depot. He’s talking air conditioners. “We got 100 units in this morning, but — let me put it this way — by the time you print this, they’ll be gone,” he tells me. When it comes to A/C, Seattleites have an almost reflexive response — “It only gets really hot for a few days, so why bother?” — which is why we own cooling units at about a third the national rate.

Most Read StoriesBut as our heat wave drags on, it seems like a lot of us are reconsidering. Last year, we set a record for the warmest July and August, with an average high temperature of 80 degrees. This year, summer is starting out even hotter. It’s beginning to feel like the new normal. Worse yet, it’s not cooling down at night like it’s supposed to. For the last week in June, low temperatures were at least 10 degrees above average, making it uncomfortable to sleep. In places where this kind of heat is normal, folks are better prepared. Take Washington, D.C., where the average July high temperature is 88 degrees. According to data from the U.S. Housing Survey, more than 9 out of 10 homes there have central air. And nearly any home that doesn’t has at least one window unit. But here in Seattle, only one out of six has central air. About the same number have a window unit — although if the scene at Home Depot is any indication, that statistic is changing as I write this.