Your score on the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick is below five.
That means you’re using more energy at home than most Americans and probably paying more than you need to on energy bills. Get personalized recomendations to improve your home and/or heating and cooling system. Find the Home Energy Yardstick at www.energystar.gov. Click on Home Energy Analysis.
Some of your rooms are too hot or cold.
Duct problems, inadequate air sealing or insulation could be the cause. No matter how efficient your heating and cooling system is, if your home is not properly sealed and insulated against air leakage, you will not be as comfortable and your system will have to work harder.
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is an energy efficiency rating for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the better the energy performance, the more you save. The DOE’s established minimum SEER rating for cooling is 13.00.
Stands for Cubic Feet per Minute. This measurement indicates how many cubic feet of air pass by a stationary point in one minute. The higher the number, the more air is being moved through the ductwork by the system.
Ideal for warmer climates, a heat pump is an all-in-one cooling and heating system. During summer months, it works like an air conditioner. It extracts heat from inside your home and transfers it to the outdoor air. When the weather’s cooler, it does the exact opposite, taking heat from outside and moving it inside.
In February 2009, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expands tax credits to homeowners for energy-efficient appliances and improvements. As a four-time winner of the ENERGY STAR® Manufacturing Partner of the Year award—and the first and only winner in the heating and cooling industry—Lennox offers a complete selection of high-efficiency home comfort systems that are eligible for tax credits under the new plan.
Adding trees to your yard can help reduce energy bills, providing shade in the summer and windbreaks in the winter. It’s important to choose the right tree for the right place: Shade trees placed to the south and west of your home will cast cooling shadows in the summer and allow warm sun to shine in during the winter.
Use a programmable thermostat to keep your home cooler during the day while you’re away and warm it up just before you come home.
For other helpful tips, check out this Go Green web site.
If your ceiling fan is the kind that can be operated counterclockwise to force heated air downward in winter, then summer is the time to make an adjustment. Running a ceiling fan clockwise circulates air to help you feel cooler without turning on the A/C.
For other helpful tips, check out this Go Green web site.
Heating and Cooling News Four Seasons News FSHAC News