In this article I wanted to provide various tips to help you save even more money this summer and upcoming year. The research identified so many ways to save money that we couldn’t fit them all in one article. Therefore our money saving tips will be covered in next issue as well. The information below was pulled from many sources and the tips listed below were mentioned in a least two different sources.

• Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.
• Plant tall, fast growth trees on the south side of your house.
• Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.
• Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping to save 10 percent or more on your energy bill.
• Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
• Unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator. Televisions, cable television boxes, cell phone chargers and other electronics give off more waste heat than you might imagine. Unplug these items or consider purchasing power management devices to eliminate electric consumption entirely when not in use.
• Reduce air conditioning costs by using fans, keeping windows and doors shut and closing shades during the day.
• When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of the energy use in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded. Fewer loads reduce energy and water use. It takes the same amount of energy to run a full load as it does a partial load.
• If your home sits empty a good part of each day, consider investing in a programmable thermostat or manually adjust the temperature each time you leave and return home.
• Never put lamps, TV sets and other heat-generating gadget beneath a wall-mounted thermostat.
• In the summer, raise the temperature a few degrees when you plan to be away for several hours at a time. (Do not shut off your air conditioner or raise the temperature too high, as heat and humidity can encourage the growth of mold and mildew in your carpet, drapes, furnishings, and clothes).
• Close Fireplace Dampers. Going up the chimney with a bound may work for Santa, but don't allow your heated or cooled air to make the same quick getaway. When your fireplace is not in use, keep your dampers or glass doors closed.
• If you use standard air filters, change them monthly. If you use an electrostatic filter, rinse it out regularly.
• If you have a mechanical air filter or HEPA filter inside your heating and cooling system, have an air conditioning and heating teachnician replace the filter annually.
• Allow air to circulate around your outside condenser unit. Fallen leaves may hinder the efficiency of the air conditioning unit so make it a habit to clear your air conditioning units with fallen shrubs. This means pruning any nearby hedges and keeping the grass mowed. Treat the area for fire ants, as needed. Ants commonly build mounds inside condensers and can cause your air conditioning to shut down.
• Have your air conditioner inspected each spring. An annual inspection of your cooling system may extend the life of your equipment and save you money by lowering your energy bills. Poorly maintained air conditioners can waste a tremendous amount of energy. "National statistics show that over 70% of all air conditioning and compressor outages could be avoided if the equipment was regualarly checked, adjusted, calibrated, and maintained by qualified technicians." (Source - Around the Clock: Engery Saving Tips)

Have a great weekend,
Brian
A/C Patriot

Next Issue - We will continue to provide more energy and money saving tips.

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