Decrease Your Energy Use

Today's tips come courtesy of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

source: http://www.mma.org/public-works-energy-a-utilities/3856-tips-to-decrease-energy-use-in-summer-months Last access 7/8/09. This summer is going to be HOT! Hotter than normal, in fact, so your air conditioner is going to be feeling the strain of constant use. How can you avoid a breakdown in the middle of summer?

1. Clean your filters!

I cannot stress this one enough. In the summer, you should be looking at your filter about once a month. If your filter is dirty - it can shut down your unit completely. Dirt and dust accumulation block air flow and make the unit strain to work. If the unit strains too much (picture someone skinny trying to lift a car) it will eventually break. Before calling for summer time service, make sure your filter has been cleaned.

Raise your thermostat temperature to 78 degrees and use a programmable thermostat if possible!

If you raise your thermostat by only a couple of degrees *(health permitting) you can save large percentages off your bill. If you utilize a programmable thermostat, you don't even need to be home to control your savings. If you work during the day, your home should be warmer than when you're home, but it's still a good idea to keep the AC running. Why? Because it's much easier to keep a home cool than it is to cool down a home that has been baking in the sun all day.

Tips from MMA:

Efficient air conditioning will make an impact on municipal electricity costs. The most common causes of degraded air conditioning performance are dirty filters and fans, improper belt alignment and adjustment, air leaks in equipment cabinets and ducts, improper air damper operation, dirty condensers and evaporator coils, and improper refrigerant charge, according to a report prepared for the Department of Energy.
Some other common-sense savings measures include using window blinds, keeping doors and windows closed when the air conditioning is on, and adjusting the thermostat after hours.

Thermostats Upgrading thermostats to programmable models is a smart investment for the summer months. A programmable thermostat may cost $50 to $200 initially, but the investment will typically pay for itself within the first year by decreasing energy bills. The pre-setting capability ensures control over building temperature and improved comfort for workers. Office equipment When purchasing office equipment, cities and towns should look for energy-efficient options from Energy Star, which may offer tax breaks as well as electricity savings. Energy Star copiers, for example, can use 40 percent less electricity than standard models. For fax machines, look for models with the lowest available power level in “sleep” mode, because most fax machines are in standby mode most of the time. Municipalities can also realize savings by using their current equipment wisely. All office equipment should be shut off at night and on weekends, when not in use. Even for PCs with a low-power sleep mode, shutting them down at night will save energy and possibly extend the life of the computer. Computer monitors typically consume about two-thirds of the total energy used by a computer, so shutting off the monitor is a good idea when leaving a computer, even for a short time. Screensavers should be avoided, as they require a lot more electricity. (Modern displays have largely eliminated the burn-in problem that screensavers were designed to resolve.)

Saving energy saves money, so take a look at these simple home changes and start saving on your monthly bills.