Air Condintioning

Reduce Your Need for Air Conditioning

Air Conditioning equipment upgrade , is the most cost effective way to reduce your energy bill is replace your AC system. But you can reduce your need for air conditioning. You can do this by:

Seal and Insulate

Insulation and air sealing prevents air conditioning from leaving your home and Air Conditioning from leaking out our Clearwater and Tampa Bay homes. Your highest priority should be to check insulation levels and air leaks between your home and the attic. Check your Air Conditioning ducts to find leaks and bad connections.

Inefficient Air Conditioning Systems and Appliances

Inefficient appliances like your tv and refrigerators give off a lot of heat. Especially consider replacing or discarding old or auxiliary refrigerators, replace incandescent lights with fluorescent and unplug electronic equipment when not in use.

Consider "Cool" Exterior Paints and Finishes

When replacing your roof or painting your house, using light-colored or other "cool" roofing and siding products can reduce your peak cooling demand by 10-15%. There are a number of roofing products that can dramatically cut down on Air Conditioning bills without blinding the neighbors. Start by looking for ENERGY STAR Reflective Roof Products.

Shade or Improve Windows

To keep high-angle summer sun out, consider horizontal trellises for your east and west-facing windows. Protect south-facing windows with deciduous trees or climbing foliage so you can take advantage of low-angle sun in the winter, when the leaves fall. New windows on those walls that get the most summer sun should have low-e glazings to block unwanted heat gain.

Cool with Air Movement and Ventilation

Fan operation uses less energy than air conditioning and can be adequate for attaining desired comfort levels unless you live in a very humid climate.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans cool by creating a low-level “wind chill” effect throughout a room. As long as indoor humidity isn’t stifling, they can be quite effective. Just remember that a fan cools people — it doesn’t actually reduce room temperature — so turn it off when you leave the room. Look for ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans.

House fans. Unless you live in a very humid climate, installing a large fan in your top-floor ceiling is a very effective way of cooling your whole house down without central AC. These fans suck air through the house, inducing a strong draft in rooms where windows are open as it pulls cooler, outdoor air inside.