As the summer months approach, many of us are looking for ways to stay cool while also saving energy and money. According to experts, setting the thermostat a few degrees higher than normal while away from home is the best way to balance energy efficiency and comfort.
Air Conditioning Strategies
Three experts interviewed by The Associated Press agree that turning off the AC for several hours and turning it back on can save money and energy, but it can also lead to mold problems in humid environments and wear and tear on the system. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests that adjusting the thermostat by 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours a day can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling.
Elizabeth Hewitt, a professor and urban planning expert at Stony Brook University, notes that if you’re gone for a short period, such as 15 minutes, you won’t gain much by turning off your AC. However, if you’re away for eight hours or more, turning off the AC can save energy and money.
Climate Considerations
Air conditioning strategies differ in humid or dry climates. In dry places like Arizona, it’s possible to let the home warm up more by raising the thermostat a few degrees higher. However, in humid climates like Florida, the air inside the home can become damp and harder to cool, and turning the AC off for long periods can increase the risk of mold.
Patrick Phelan, a mechanical engineering professor at Arizona State University, says that bumping up the thermostat by 1 degree Fahrenheit can yield about a 3% savings in cooling costs. He also notes that leaving the AC off for hours and then turning it back on can lead to wear and tear on the system, resulting in more frequent repairs.
Gregor Henze, an architectural engineering professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, adds that the type of home you live in can also impact energy and money savings. Homes built with heavy materials like concrete or brick hold in cool air longer, while older, draftier houses heat up faster.
Smart Thermostats and Energy Efficiency
Smart thermostats can be a handy tool to remove the mental burden of tinkering with your manual thermostat multiple times a day. These thermostats can learn by monitoring the occupancy with a sensor and raise the temperature when no one is home to conserve energy and lower it when people return.
Phelan says that installing a smart thermostat can expect something like 10% savings. Additionally, simple steps like blocking sunlight can go a long way in keeping homes cool. Closing your blinds can make a difference of several degrees, and some blinds are designed to reflect sunlight.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
