Conditioned Air Company of Naples, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘energy saving tips’

PREPARE TO SAVE ENERGY THIS FALL IN FLORIDA

Monday, October 1st, 2018

With the mild weather of fall coming, now is the perfect time to make a few improvements around your home. If you are suffering from high utility bills, here are four easy ways that you can reduce energy consumption in your Southwest Florida home:

Have Your HVAC System Serviced

Things like clogged air filters, poorly-lubricated blower motors and dirty condenser or evaporator coils can make your HVAC system work harder than necessary to keep you comfortable, increasing your energy consumption and utility bills. To save energy and extend the life of your system, have an HVAC professional inspect it and perform any routine maintenance that may be required. After the visit, check the air filter often and change it as necessary to keep your system running efficiently.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

By adjusting the temperature in your home while you are at work or asleep, you can reduce the energy consumption of your HVAC system by as much as 10 percent. A programmable thermostat is the easy way to do this, as it can automatically adjust the temperature, then return it to normal so that your home is comfortable when you come back from work or wake up. In warm weather raise the temperature 10 to 15 degrees, and in cool weather reduce it.

Seal and Insulate Your Home

Air leaks can significantly increase energy usage in any season by allowing conditioned air to escape and outside air to enter.. Use weatherstripping and caulk to seal around drafty windows or doors, and use caulk or expanding foam insulation to seal penetrations made for pipes, cables, dryer vents and other openings in your exterior walls. Have your insulation levels checked, especially in the floors, walls and attic, and add more if necessary.

Reduce Your Water Heater Temperature

Many water heaters are set to 140 degrees or higher from the factory, which not only wastes energy but also may cause scalding. A setting of 120 degrees can reduce your costs, while still providing plenty of hot water.

For more ways to reduce energy consumption, talk to our HVAC professionals at Conditioned Air today.

Tags: energy, energy saving tips, fall in florida, save, southwest florida hvac
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Summertime temperatures are heating up!

Tuesday, August 8th, 2017

It’s August in Southwest Florida, the hottest month of the year. Here are 5 top tips to keep your home cool this summer.

To optimize your comfort, set your thermostat to 78°F when you’re at home and 85°F when you’re not*.

Lower blinds or close curtains during the daytime. This prevents the sun’s heat from entering your home.

Set ceiling fans to counterclockwise. The cooling effect on your skin will make the room feel 8° cooler.

Use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air. This will leave you feeling cooler even on the hottest days.

Cooking adds heat to your home. On hot days, avoid using the oven. Instead, grill outside or use a microwave oven.

At Conditioned Air of Naples, Fort Myers & Sarasota we are here 24/7 to keep you cool.

Tags: a/c efficiency, AC Maintenance, ac maintenance; air conditioner preventive maintenance, air conditioner maintenance, energy saving tips
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How To Calculate Your Energy Usage

Tuesday, July 11th, 2017

Electricity costs can be significant in Southwest Florida, and if you would like to minimize your utility bills, the best way to start is by calculating your energy usage. Every appliance, light and electronic device has its own electricity requirements, and the first step in calculating your energy usage is determining what that figure is for each device.

Using the Energy Guide Label

Many appliances and electronics, including large appliances like air conditioning systems, have a yellow Energy Guide label that makes determining energy usage simple. For electrical devices, the label will list estimated yearly energy usage in kilowatt-hours, which are the same units used on your electricity bill. To determine a device’s monthly usage, simply divide that number by 12, and to determine its daily usage, divide by 365.

Using Wattage

If no Energy Guide label is present, check the device for a label listing its electrical requirements, which is often found near the electrical cord. Many products will list the device’s wattage. To convert watts to kilowatts, simply divide by 1000. For example, a coffee maker that uses 800 watts would use 0.8 kilowatts of power. To find the kilowatt-hours used by a device, multiply the kilowatt rating by the number of hours the device is used daily. For example, the coffee maker that is rated for 0.8 kilowatts would require 2.4 kilowatt-hours of electricity a day when used for 3 hours.

Using Amperage

Some devices do not list wattage, so it must be calculated by multiplying amperage and voltage. For most devices, the voltage will be 120, though larger appliances may use 220 or 240 volts. A device that uses 5 amps at 120 volts would require 600 watts of power, while one that uses 0.5 amps would require 60 watts. Smaller devices may be rated in milliamps, which must be divided by 1000 to find the amps. Once the wattage is found, the kilowatt hours can be calculated, then simply add all your devices to calculate your total energy usage.

For help with calculating your energy usage, or reducing it, contact our team at Conditioned Air, serving Southwest Florida.

Tags: energy efficiency ratio, energy saving tips, save energy
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How Can I Qualify For an Energy Tax Rebate?

Tuesday, March 21st, 2017

For many years, the federal Energy Star program has encouraged homeowners to reduce energy usage by offering tax credits for certain energy-efficient products, such as HVAC equipment and water heaters. Some products that qualify for the energy tax rebate include:

HVAC Equipment

Central air conditioning systems: A $300 credit is available for cooling systems that are featured on the Energy Star Most Efficient 2016 list, as well as certain models that feature a SEER of 16 or above for split systems or 14 or above for packaged systems. To determine if your system qualifies, visit the Energy Star website or contact the manufacturer.
Air source heat pumps: A $300 credit is available for Energy Star-certified models. Split systems must have an HSPF of greater than 8.5, an EER of over 12.5 and a SEER of over 15. Packaged systems must have an HSPF of over 8, an EER of over 12 and a SEER of over 14.
Furnaces: Gas, propane or oil furnaces that are Energy Star-certified with an AFUE of over 95 qualify for a $150 credit, and Energy Star-certified furnace fans that use less that 2 percent of the total energy for the furnace qualify for a $50 credit.
Boilers: Boilers on the Energy Star Most Efficient 2016 list with an AFUE of over 95 qualify for a $150 credit.

Geothermal Heat Pumps: A credit for up to 30% of the system’s purchase price is available for both new or existing homes.

Water Heaters

A $300 credit is available for Energy Star-certified electric water heaters, as well as certain Energy Star-certified natural gas models with an energy factor of over 0.82 and heat pump models with an energy factor of over 2.0.

To qualify for the energy tax rebate, these products must have been purchased by December 31, 2016 and installed in an existing home that is your primary residence. IRS form 5695 must be filed with your federal income taxes by April 18, 2017 to receive the energy tax rebate.

To learn more about the energy tax rebate for HVAC equipment, contact our team at Conditioned Air.

Tags: energy saving tips, energy tax rebate, save energy
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Maximizing Energy Efficiency with a Programmable Thermostat

Tuesday, January 24th, 2017

A programmable thermostat is a relativity inexpensive upgrade for your HVAC system that makes it easy to adjust the temperature of your home automatically according to your schedule. With the correct programmable thermostat settings, you can save over 10 percent on your cooling costs without sacrificing your comfort or changing your routine, similar to the benefits of a home service agreement plan.

What are the best settings when installing a programmable thermostat to save energy?

Increase the temperature by 5–10°F when you’re away to reduce cooling costs.
Set the thermostat to return to a comfortable level about an hour before you come home.
Raise the temperature slightly at night to save energy while sleeping.
Use natural ventilation during cooler times of day instead of air conditioning.
Choose a thermostat that fits your routine: basic 5-2 models, daily programmable, or smart thermostats with sensors.

Setting Your Programmable Thermostat

When your home is unoccupied, keeping it cooled to your preferred temperature wastes money and energy while adding unnecessary wear and tear to your air conditioning system. By raising the temperature 5 to 10 degrees while you are at work or away, you can save significant amounts of money.

Then, by returning the temperature to normal about an hour or so before you come home (depending on how long it takes your air conditioner to respond), you can ensure that your home will be comfortable when you arrive. Similarly, you can increase the savings by raising the temperature a few degrees while you sleep.

During cooler weather, you can modify the programmable thermostat settings to only turn the system on during the hottest parts of the day, and use other forms of ventilation, such as open windows and fans, to cool your home inexpensively, making it an effective complement to an ongoing HVAC service contract.

Types of Programmable Thermostats

Standard programmable thermostats use a simple display and a few buttons to enter your settings. They come in several varieties, including models with one program for the week and one for the weekend, versions that have a weekday program and two weekend programs, and models that feature one program for each day. Each program offers several set points, programmable by time and temperature, which can be even more effective when combined with basic air conditioner troubleshooting tips.

More advanced models include Wi-Fi connectivity for easy programming from a local computer, or even from mobile devices over the internet, as well as features like:

Touchscreen displays
Real-time weather information
Ability to add occupancy or temperature sensors
Integration with home automation systems
Advanced self-programming capabilities

These programmable thermostats typically cost more, but are far easier to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How much can programmable thermostats save on cooling costs?
Answer: With the correct settings, you can save over 10% on cooling costs without sacrificing comfort or changing your routine. These savings come from reducing energy use during times when cooling isn’t needed, like when you’re away or sleeping.

Question: What thermostat settings help save energy when the home is empty or at night?
Answer: Raise the temperature by 5 to 10 degrees during the day when no one is home, and again at night while sleeping. A programmable thermostat will return the temperature to a comfortable level before you wake up or return home.

Question: What types of programmable thermostats are available?
Answer: Programmable thermostats range from basic models with 5-2 or 7-day scheduling to advanced options with WiFi control, mobile apps, touchscreen displays, learning algorithms, and smart home integration for added convenience and control.

Question: Why is a programmable thermostat more effective than manual adjustments?
Answer: Programmable thermostats automatically adjust temperatures based on your schedule, eliminating forgetfulness and optimizing efficiency. Manual adjustments can be inconsistent, leading to missed opportunities for energy savings.

For more information about choosing the best programmable thermostat settings, talk to our team at Conditioned Air today, serving the Southwest Florida area.

Tags: energy efficiency, energy saving tips, programmable thermostat, save energy
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4 Tips to Save Energy This Fall

Tuesday, December 6th, 2016

With the mild weather of fall, now is the perfect time to make a few improvements around your home. If you are suffering from high utility bills, here are four easy ways that you can reduce energy consumption in your Southwest Florida home: