With the hot and humid summer months upon us there is an increase of concern from homeowners on the cost of running their air conditioners. Cooling units are a leading user of electricity in our homes.
Over 55 percent of Oahu homes now have air conditioning, from a single window unit to central air, up from 22 percent just 25 years ago. - Hawaii’s Energy Future
Running a window unit in a standard bedroom for 8 hours a night can rack up to a $49 monthly bill, depending on its EER. Turning the thermostat a few degrees lower or running it during hotter hours of the daytime can make a dramatic difference in your electricity consumption, which is reflected on your utility bill. Here a few tips to keep in mind to help lower your energy usage this summer while still keeping cool:
- Consider the use of a fan in place of your traditional cooling unit.
- Lower the thermostat to reduce your energy consumption.
- Install a programmable thermostat to automatically run the unit only when the house is normally occupied.
- Clean or replace filters to increase the efficiency of your cooling unit.
- Take actions to lower the temperature of your home. Install cooler CFL lights and close the blinds or invest in home tinting for your windows.
- Purchase the right size cooling system for your room or home. HECO offers a calculator to determine the unit size you need and shows the average monthly dollars that it will cost you.
- Schedule a system maintenance check with a licensed contractor. For central air conditioning units this may qualify you for a maintenance rebate.
- Add a photovoltaic system to your house.
All of these small but significant changes can help to keep your cooling system from working overtime during these hot summer months. Find more information and further energy saving tips at the Hawaii’s Energy Futurewebsite.
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