When it comes to home energy usage, many people want to improve their efficiency to avoid wasting money and to help the environment. However, some people will do simple things that cause them to waste energy without realizing it. This can commonly happen to people with a new air conditioner that they’re still learning about.
While air conditioner maintenance is necessary, and you can request an expert to handle that, there are simple do it yourself (DIY) things you can do to save energy. These will help you to effectively use your air conditioner, save money and save energy all at the same time. Let’s explore some tips that may be helpful for your home and energy needs:
Close Your Doors
Whether you have an older air conditioner that is only in one room or a new air conditioner system that cools multiple locations throughout the house, you should strategically close your doors to help regulate room temperature and AC usage. When it comes to air conditioning, you can keep the air in the desired rooms, to stop it from spreading out to unused rooms.
By closing the door, you can prevent the air from leaving the room, allowing it to cool the desired room(s) faster and more efficiently. If you have central air conditioning, be sure to open the vents in the rooms that you want to cool and close the vents in rooms that you are not using (with the door closed). This will also depend on where your thermostat(s) is located. Your thermostat will gauge the temperature of the room and adjust your AC unit accordingly, so be aware which rooms have a thermostat and adjust your door/vent strategy to align with thermostat placement.
Be Mindful of Your Windows
If you leave any windows cracked, air can easily seep out through the window. This will cause the air to move out the window, making it take longer to cool off the room. Leaving the window even slightly cracked can cause a significant increase in energy consumption. By closing your window when you use an air conditioner, you’ll save money and energy.
Keep in mind that you can always open your window if it’s cold enough outside. If you feel that your house is hot but colder outside, then open your window and let that fresh air in. This will help to cool down your house without using your air conditioner.
Check your windows for leaks or gaps, especially if you have older windows. A little bit of caulk can make a big difference in improving your home’s energy efficiency and is an easy DIY project.
Avoid Running the Air Conditioner All Night
People will absentmindedly leave their air conditioner running all night, which wastes energy and money. If you do this every evening, then you’ll cause more wear and tear over time for your air conditioner. This means that you’ll have to get AC repairs more often, costing more money in the long run.
To avoid this, run the air conditioner before you go to bed then turn it off. If your air conditioner has this function, you can also set a timer for it to turn off after an hour. This way, the air conditioner will run long enough for you to fall asleep but not waste money and energy all night.
Save Energy, Save Money, Help the Environment
There are many simple ways to save energy and money when using your air conditioner. It’s nice to have these devices, but that doesn’t mean that people need to use them all the time. By being smart with your doors, vents, windows, and usage, you can save yourself a lot of hassle and money on your AC and energy bills.
