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Air Conditioners - How to Cut Running Costs in Half
In today's world, most people have invested in one form of an air conditioner or another. We have either window air conditioners in our homes or central air conditioners. They keep us cool in the extreme summer heat without fail; however, have you ever set back and looked at the costs of running an air conditioner? When compared to the common household fan the amount of electricity required to run an air conditioner is phenomenal.
Energy-Saving Tips
In the example above, the annual energy cost was based on 615 hours of operation (the total running time of the unit's motor). The total operating hours of your room air conditioner may differ dramatically, depending on how you use the unit. Features such as timers and “fan-only” modes can help limit operating hours.
Cooling Your Home: Don't Sweat It
As the mercury rises, so can the costs of keeping your home cool. And while news reports about high energy prices may have you in a sweat, the Federal Trade Commission has some tips to help you save money while keeping your home cool this summer.
Programmable Thermostats
If you want to make a serious dent in your heating and cooling costs, install a programmable thermostat. You'll be more comfortable too. One benefit that I didn't anticipate but really enjoy is that I can set the thermostat to start to let the house cool down 30 minutes before bedtime and to warm it up 30 minutes before the time I want to get up. Those settings make getting to bed and getting up on time much more natural and easy.
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