Help & Hints

If you're concerned about saving energy, the best place to start is at home. By changing the way you live and how you consume energy, you can make a difference now and for generations to come.

Here are some energy-saving tips you can adopt right in your own home. In addition to lowering your monthly utility bills, you'll be doing your part to conserve our natural resources and preserve the environment for future generations. Now what could be more energy-wise? (Information provided by The Carrier Corporation)

ENERGY SAVING TIPS Windows

Do you know that up to 25% of your heat can go out the window? Here's what you can do:

• Use caulking and weatherstripping to stop much of the heated air from escaping.
• Replace single-thickness windows with thermal-type double thickness windows.
• Install storm windows and doors to provide additional insurance against heat loss.

Insulation

Are you aware that an uninsulated attic can raise your heating and cooling costs? Here's what you can do:

• Install R-30 insulation in the ceiling.

Lighting

Did you know that compact flourescent light bulbs use one-fourth the wattage and provide the same amount of soft light as incandescent bulbs?

Here's what you can do:

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones.
• Use lower wattage bulbs for small areas like hallways and vestibules.
• Get in the habit of turning out the lights when you leave a room.

Appliances

Do you know that the biggest user of energy on the home is your heating and cooling system? To conserve energy and cut down on energy waste here's what you can do:

• Upgrade older equipment with higher efficiency furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps.
• Make sure that your heating and/or cooling equipment is properly sized for your home. Operating a unit that is too small or too large is very inefficient. Your heating and air conditioning contractor can determine the best size unit for your home.
• Check your heating system to see that it is running efficiently. Have your dealer inspect the system before the winter months. Be sure to change the filters regularly and at least every three months.
• If you replace your central air conditioner, make sure that the contractor replaces the indoor coil as well as the outside condensing unit. Otherwise, your system won't perform at its promised efficiency.
• Install electric ceiling fans to boost the efficiency of room air conditioners in the summer and to circulate warm air away from the ceiling in the winter.
• Be sure to clean or replace filters of all equipment regularly. Clogged filters make appliances work harder, so they use more energy to do the same job.
• Invest in an automatic setback thermostat that will adjust temperatures at night and when you are away from home.
• Install a zoning system to control and regulate airflow and temperature so you only have to heat or cool areas of your home that you're using.
• Adding a humidifier to your heating system may enable you to turn your thermostat down and still be comfortable at lower temperatures.
• Help lower your energy requirements by wearing appropriate clothing in your home; lightweight clothing in the summer and warmer clothing in the winter.
• Check the efficiency ratings mandated by the Department of Energy when you shop for new equipment so you can make sure you're getting high-efficiency equipment. Ratings will be prominately displayed on the yellow hangtag required by law to be on each new unit sold.

CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONER efficiency is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER the more efficient the unit. Units with a SEER of 17 or above are considered high-efficiency; 21 is the highest available.

FURNACE efficiency is measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. The colder the climate and the higher the local utility rates, the higher the AFUE you should get. Furnaces with AFUE ratings of 90% percent and above are considered high-efficiency; 96.6% is the highest available.

HEAT PUMP cooling efficiency is measured by a SEER rating; a heat pump's heating efficiency is measured as the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). A heat pump with a SEER of 15 or higher and an HSPF of at least 8.5 is considered high-efficiency.

ROOM AIR CONDITIONER efficiency is measured by the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is the BTU/hr output divided by the watts of electricity the unit uses. It basically tells you how much heat you get out of the unit compared to how much electricity you put into it. The higher the EER, the less the electricity the air conditioner will use.