Ask Focus on Energy

Focus has tips to keep your apartment energy efficient in the summer.

Yes, a high percentage of your summer electric bill goes toward cooling your apartment or condo. Reducing the amount of heat in your apartment by managing your air conditioning use will lower those costs. I’ve listed a few tips below, but Focus on Energy Apartment & Condo Efficiency Services also has a fact sheet on ways to reduce energy costs in the summer that you can reference.

• Use a programmable thermostat to set the cooling temperature when you are at home and higher when you are sleeping or away from home. This will use less energy without sacrificing comfort. During the summer, a 5°F higher setting on your air conditioning thermostat will save about 10% on cooling costs.
• Use a timer to turn on a window air conditioner half an hour before you get home from work, rather than running it while you are gone. Keep the filters clean. If possible, locate the air conditioner in a window that is most central to the area you are cooling and on the shadiest side of the building. If you are planning to purchase a window air conditioner, look for one that has the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners exceed minimum federal standards for energy consumption by at least 10 percent.
• Ninety percent of the energy used by an incandescent bulb makes heat. ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs produce a fraction of the heat and last much longer. Replace halogen torchiere lamps with ENERGY STAR qualified torchieres.
• Used in combination with your air conditioner, ceiling fans will allow you to raise your thermostat setting by as much as 4°F without reducing your comfort. During only moderately hot weather, you may be able to avoid using your air conditioner altogether. Make sure that the direction of the fan is correct; while standing under the ceiling fan you should feel a cool breeze. The airflow produced creates a wind-chill effect, making you "feel" cooler.
• Install a low-flow showerhead if yours uses more than 2.5 gallons per minute.

Published Sunday, April 19, 2009