In part 1 of our energy saving tips - we focused on simple things that could be accomplished with little to no out-of-pocket expense. In part 2, we will be discussing improvements that do cost money, but have a clear payback and good return on investment. Again, the information below was pulled from many sources and the tips listed below were mentioned in at least two different sources. Enjoy!

• Take the Whole House Approach. Houses work as a system. Insulation, heating and air conditioning, air sealing, water heating, ductwork, windows, and doors all work together to determine the efficiency of your home. Schedule a comprehensive home energy assessment through Home Performance with ENERGY STAR to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
• Install a programmable thermostat that can adjust the temperature according to your schedule. An ENERGY STAR thermostat can save as much as $115 per year, provide more flexibility than standard models
• ENERGY STAR® labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent. Find retailers near you at http://www.energystar.gov/ when you’re ready to replace your heating and cooling systems – as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics.
• Units with higher EERs are more energy efficient costing you less to operate. When purchasing a room AC, make sure you are purchasing a unit that is properly sized for the area you want to cool. Ask you retail sales person for help finding the right size air conditioner for your needs and make sure that a Manual J calculation is completed. Remember bigger is not better.
• Installing new, high-performance windows will improve your home's energy performance. While it may take many years for new windows to pay off in energy savings, the benefits of added comfort and improved aesthetics and functionality may make the investment worth it to you..
• Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. Storm windows should have weatherstripping at all moveable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.
• Seal your home's envelope – walls, floor, ceiling and roof – to save up to 10% on your annual energy bill. Test for air leaks by holding a lit incense stick next to windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather stripping.
• Add weather stripping around windows and doors to reduce drafts. Use caulking to seal around ducts, plumbing and any other openings in walls, floors and ceilings to reduce air leakage. Begin in the attic, a common place for warm air to escape. Seal larger gaps that cannot be covered with caulk with expanding foam.
• After air sealing, determine the current level of insulation. In the attic, measure the depth of existing insulation using a ruler. If there is less than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 6 inches of cellulose) you could probably benefit by adding more. Most U.S. homes should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Insulating ceilings, walls, attics, floors, crawl spaces and basements to recommended standards can reduce heating and cooling costs by 5% to 25%. Most sources recommend a minimum of R-30 (10”).
• Install an attic fan to draw hot air out of your attic. Properly sized and placed louvers and roof vents help prevent moisture buildup and overheating in your attic.
• We can’t emphasize enough the importance of routine maintenance. Consumer reports did a study and found over 90% of all repair calls are made on non-maintained equipment.

Have a great weekend,
Brian
A/C Patriot

Next Issue - We will talk about the differences between EER and SEER and what you should look for in a new unit.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Please feel free to email your comments to brian@acpatriot.com. Please remember to forward this newsletter to friends, family and neighbors.