Take the Heat Off: Control your Energy Consumption
Austin Energy

Controlling your energy consumption can often result in a dramatic difference in your energy bill. Here are a few tips from Austin energy on the subject.

Air Conditioning

• New high efficiency air conditioners and heat pumps use up to 40% less electricity than older models-for the same amount of running time.
• Clean or replace AC filters at least once a month. Dirty filters will make your air conditioner work harder and run longer.
• Clean AC or heat pump coils at the beginning of summer. Clean coils will lower your energy costs, extend the unit's life and provide cleaner air for you to breathe. The fine coils on the outside AC unit can be washed with a hose. Coils on inside units may be difficult to get to and might best be serviced by a trained technician.
• Keep debris, high grass or other obstacles away from outdoor AC condenser so that air flow to the unit is not blocked. Blockage will make the unit work harder and run longer.
• Outside air conditioning condensers shaded by trees or other means work more efficiently and use up to 10 percent less electricity.
• Set your thermostat at 78. Each degree cooler than 78 will increase your energy use by 3% - 8% per degree. Setting your thermostat at 72 could increase energy use by up to 18% - 48%.
• Duct work in the attic of the average home leaks 15% - 25% of heating and cooling. Leaking ducts can affect air quality in your home by sucking in and redistributing pesticides, fiberglass fibers and dust.
• Attic radiant barrier, usually made of aluminum foil bonded to paper, helps block heat flow through the roof into the house during summer. It can be stapled across roof rafters in the attic and can reduce annual energy bills by 3% - 8%.
• Correctly positioned shade trees can reduce annual household cooling costs by up to 25%. Also, tree-shaded neighborhoods stay up to 3-6 degrees cooler than tree-less neighborhoods.
• More heat is transferred into homes from outside walls painted with dark colors-than those painted with light colors. Dark outside colors absorb 70% - 90% of the radiant heat that strikes the home's surface.

Fans

• Fans blowing directly on you can make temperatures around you feel up to 4 degrees cooler. Fans blowing, but not directly on you, will not produce the same effect. Fans cool people, not rooms.

• Solar screens on windows can block out 60% - 70% of sunlight/heat.
• Tint films applied directly to windows can block out 40% - 60% of sunshine/heat.
• Keep blinds and drapes closed to keep your house cooler. Drapes block out sunlight and heat better than blinds.

• Next to heating and cooling, electric water heaters use the most energy in a household (14% - 20%).
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees.
• Wrapping your water heater with an insulation blanket can reduce its energy use by 10% - 15%.

Heating Operating Tips

• Heating with a central electric furnace can use 3 to 5 times as much electricity as an air conditioner for each hour of operation.
• Keep the thermostat at 68 degrees or lower.
• Turn the heater off when you leave for (4) hours or more, unless you have a heat pump or expect a hard freeze.
• Do not use a fireplace and the electric heater at the same time.
• Make sure that the thermostat is not in a draft or near a window.
• Clean or replace the filter each month.
• Keep furniture and other obstructions away from return air grills.