Do you have an energy efficient AC? These days, it’s important that your air conditioner works efficiently. Modern ACs are more energy efficient than ever, but your older AC may not be the energy efficient AC you need to save money on energy bills while cooling.
Is Your Energy Bill High?
Bills that suddenly skyrocket or that are high compared to your neighbors’ bills could mean your air conditioner is inefficient. Is it older than 10 years? Twenty years? Then you’re likely not getting all the benefits that modern AC technology could contribute to greater efficiency.
There can be many reasons for high bills. Maybe your electricity company isn’t delivering you low-cost energy as it should. Maybe summers are getting hotter and your old AC is struggling to keep up. Maybe you’re running appliances during peak hours.
Or maybe your air conditioner was not sized correctly when it was installed. All too often, air conditioners are bigger than they need to be under the mistaken thinking that bigger is better, when in fact, it will result in short-cycling (the unit turning on and off before it reaches set temperature points). The correction for this is to have a new, efficient air conditioner installed that is sized according to numerous factors, such as square footage, the orientation of the house to the sun, number of occupants, number of windows, and other factors.
Energy Efficient AC Features on Newer Units
If you’re shopping for a new AC, be sure it has these energy-saving features:
- Higher SEER Ratings. New ACs are built with features that contribute to higher SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). An older system may have a SEER of 12, while newer units typically have a SEER close to 20.
- Energy-Efficient Features. Efficient ACs may include a scroll compressor (also quieter than piston-type ACs); variable speed motor on the air handler to maximize airflow efficiency; thermal expansion valves to adjust refrigerant properly; or Variable speed or two-stage compressor (one stage, hi-speed for hotter days and slower or low speed for milder days).
- Programmable Temperature Settings.
For more on energy-efficient AC, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company.
