Patty Manzi’s Tri-Valley Real Estate Blog

PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR THE HOT WEATHER

• Setting your air conditioner 5 degrees higher can save you up to 20% on cooling costs.
• Use fans to make indoor temperatures feel cooler, most ceiling fans use less energy than a light bulb.
• Have your air conditioning unit serviced, it could cut cooling costs by 15%
• Don’t try to cool the great outdoors!  Seal cracks, gaps, leaks, and add insulation to save up to 20% on home cooling costs.

INVESTMENTS FOR SUMMER ENERGY SAVINGS

• Have your heating and cooling ducts professionally sealed, this could save up to $190 per year.
• Install a programmable termostat and only cool the house when you’re home.  It can save up to $180 per year and pays for itself in 6-9 months.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFL’s to save on lighting AND cooling costs.  90% of the energy used by old incandescent bulbs produce heat, not light.
• If your old air conditioner breaks down, consider a high-efficiency replacement.  Replacing a 10-year old central air coniditioning unit with an ENERGY STAR qualified model can cut 20-40% off your cooling costs.

CHOOSE A PROGRAMMABLE TERMOSTAT THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

To decide which model is right for you, think about your schedule and how often you are away from home for regular periods of time (work, school, other activities) and then decide which of the three different models best fits your schedule: the 7-day, 5+2 day, or 5-1-1 day.

• The 7-day model are best if your daily schedule tends to change daily.  This gives you the most flexibility, and lets you let different programs for different days, usually with four possible temperature periods per day.
• 5+2 day models use the same schedule for every weekday and another for weekends.
• 5-1-1 day models are best if you tend to keep one schedule Monday through Friday and another schedule on Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information on this go to www.energystar.gov