![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/thermostat-300x151.gif\" "\\"thermostat\\"")
My family recently left the house for the day, and my wife and I debated turning the air conditioning off or leaving it on while we were away.<\/p>\nMy family recently left the house for the day, and my wife and I debated turning the air conditioning off or leaving it on while we were away.<\/p>\n
We ended up leaving it on with the thought that the A\/C wouldn\u2019t have to work as hard to keep the house cool when we came home. From an\u00a0energy-saving perspective, it would have been wisest\u00a0to turn\u00a0it off completely\u00a0or, at least, raise the temperature while we were away.<\/p>\n
\u201cAir-conditioning systems run most efficiently when they are running at full speed,\u201d\u00a0Jennifer Thorne Amann, MES, buildings program director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), recently told\u00a0Rodale\u2019s Organic Life. Rather than charging your A\/C unit with performing a number of short cool-downs during the day, Amann said one big cool-down\u00a0upon returning home will ultimately save more energy and better dehumidify your home to boot.<\/p>\n
Now,\u00a0if you live in a super-hot climate (like Arizona or Florida) or have pets at home, turning off your air conditioning\u00a0may not be the best or wisest choice.<\/p>\n
Other\u00a0experts advise\u00a0that using a programmable thermostat to bump up the temperature (to around 85 degrees F) when you are away, then\u00a0gradually cooling the house down before you arrive home is a smart strategy for maximum energy savings.<\/p>\n
The ACEEE estimates that air conditioners use three to five percent less energy for every degree you raise the thermostat. The\u00a0sweet spot for energy savings\u00a0seems to be around 78 degrees F.<\/p>\n
So it looks like the consensus is to either turn off the A\/C completely (as long you aren\u2019t in a very hot climate) or using a programmable thermostat to set the temperature higher while away.<\/p>\n
Other simple ways to save energy and money while keeping cool include:<\/p>\n
1. Replace or clean A\/C filters on a monthly basis<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0FamilyHandyman.com:\u00a0\u201cDirty air filters are the No. 1 cause of air conditioning breakdowns and they cost about 7 percent more in energy costs (or about $45 a year) in hot climates.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. Use a ceiling fan in conjunction with your A\/C<\/p>\n
While a ceiling fan won\u2019t lower the temperature of a room, feeling the air move across your\u00a0skin will help you\u00a0feel cooler. Just be sure to turn the fan off when you leave a room to avoid wasting energy.<\/p>\n
3. Create a draft<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s cool enough, try\u00a0turning off the A\/C and creating \u201ccrosswinds\u201d across your house instead.\u00a0Open windows on opposite sides of the house just enough to create a draft. Avoid opening them too much, as the breeze won\u2019t pull through if the window is opened all the way. Rodale\u2019s Organic Life suggests experimenting with windows on different levels of your house to see which create the best crosswind.<\/p>\n
4. Upgrade your air conditioner or thermostat<\/p>\n
Upgrading to a newer, energy-efficient air conditioning unit can help keep your home cooler and cut costs at the same time. Likewise, investing in a programmable thermostat can allow you to set different temperatures throughout the day. \u201cSmart\u201d thermostats like the\u00a0Nest retail for around $220, and work to adjust temperatures automatically,\u00a0can be adjusted remotely from your phone and will tell you when you hit\u00a0a temperature that\u00a0saves energy. Pretty smart, indeed!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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