Heating and Cooling Efficiency

Heating and Cooling system uses more than half of the energy in your home, so you can blame it for your high energy bill. But who makes the rules in your house? You do, and a slight change in your heating and cooling habits can result in more money in your pocket each month. While your comfort is important, ask yourself at what cost.

• Set your thermostat between 78 and 80 degrees while at home during the warm season. Raise the temperature 7 degrees higher when you leave your home for several hours. Raise the temperature 4 degrees higher when you go to bed. During the cold season, set your thermostat between 68 to 70 degrees when you're at home.

• Use a programmable thermostat. Set it at a higher temperature (try 85 degrees) while you're at work. Then, program it to be a comfortable temperature (78-80 degrees) in time for your return home. Try our free Peak Saver Thermostat

• Use ceiling or portable electric fans in occupied rooms to circulta air and make a room feel cooler. Don't foget to turn off fans when you leave the room! Make sure ceiling fans are running in a clockwise direction for summer cooling. If you don't feel a breeze from the fan, check the reverse switch.

• Check your air filter every month, especially during the summer and winter, and replace dirty filters that make your system work harder and waste energy.

• Have you heating and air conditioning system serviced twice a year (spring and fall, preferably) by a licensed professional.

• Close exterior doors and windows when your air conditioner is on to keep the heat out and reduce your AC's running time.

• When buying a new central air conditioning unit, remember that proper sizing and quality installation are cretical to your home's enegy efficiency.

• Keep a 2- to 3- foot clearance around your outside air conditioning unit to ensure proper circulation.

• Reduce air leaks and prevent unnecessary air infiltration around the house. Add caulk around window frames and weather - stripping around door frames. Instal inexpensive from gaskets behind and light switches.

• Check the insulation in your attic. Poorly insulated attics may lose up to 40 percent of the cool air in a house. The recommended level of insulation for an attic in South Texaz is R-30 to R-60 (the higher the R-value, the better your attic resists the heat and cool).

• Close window blinds and curtains to keep out the summer sun and open reduce heat. Raise shades and open curtains during winter months to let in the sun's warmth.