With summertime comes hot weather and for many, turning on the air conditioner becomes necessary at this time. Temperatures can go as high as 28 degrees celsius which might make most living spaces uncomfortable. Air Conditioning (A/C) is an artificial means of enhancing the ambiance of living space by regulating the temperature. The A/C unit consists of a roughly one cubic meter machine in the shape of a cuboid containing a cooling system. The machine is connected to air ducts that circulate air in and out of the living space to be cooled. The unit takes in warm air, reduces its temperature through a cooling process, then recirculates it into the living space.
While an air conditioner can certainly make a room more comfortable, it consumes a lot of electricity. The average home’s air conditioner consumes about one-third of the total electricity used in the home. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the amount of electricity your air conditioner uses and these include the following:
Install a programmable thermostat:
Installing a programmable thermostat is a great way to reduce your electricity consumption and save money on your electric bill. Programmable thermostats allow you to set the temperature for your home based on when you are home and when you are away. This allows you to save energy by switching off your air conditioner when you are not home thus minimizing wastage and saving electricity.
Supplementary cooling options like fans; Fans can make you feel 3-8 degrees cooler and yet use less electricity compared to A/C. using them in addition to A/C can reduce the need for A/C thereby cutting electricity consumption.
Keep windows and doors closed when the AC is on: Leaving windows and doors open can allow warm air to circulate your interior thereby warming it up. This causes the AC unit to work harder than necessary to outcompete the warmth coming in through the open windows and doors. This can lead to increased electricity consumption and higher cooling bills. Keeping windows and doors closed shuts out warm air from the outside thus allowing easier circulation of cool air from the A/C. This reduces electricity consumption by the A/C unit.
Keep your A/C clean:
One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your electricity consumption is to keep your A/C clean. This can be achieved by regular cleaning of the filter, vacuuming the inside of the unit, wiping down the exterior every few months, and keeping the air ducts clean. Doing this will help improve airflow and keep your unit running efficiently. By keeping your A/C clean, you can reduce the amount of electricity it consumes by up to 30%. Moreover, cleaning the A/C reduces maintenance costs as it reduces the chances of machine failure as a consequence of dust or debris.
Shade your home:
Shading your home during the summer months is a great way to reduce your electricity consumption and save money on your energy bill. By installing a shade structure, such as awnings, patio covers, or pergolas, you can keep the sun from shining directly on your home’s windows and walls. They also act as outdoor relaxation areas with the air freshness of the outdoors, but blocked direct sunshine. This will help to keep your home cooler and reduce the amount of air conditioning needed to stay comfortable. Shade structures can also protect from the rain and wind, making them a great addition to your outdoor living space. Moreover, some of the shade structures are decorative and may also add to the aesthetic quality of your house.
Optimize the size of your A/C to suit your needs; A/C units come in a variety of sizes. It is important to first assess your home needs before your rush into installing an A/C unit. A thirty-roomed mansion will have different air conditioning requirements from a three bed-roomed bungalow. Thus it is important to assess your needs before installing an A/C unit otherwise you might incur unnecessary expenses on a less than optimal A/C size.
Regular maintenance; A poorly, maintained air conditioning system is less efficient and consumes more electricity per unit of output causing wastage. regular maintenance ensures that the system is always running at maximum efficiency which in turn reduces electricity wastage.
Use curtains; One of the contributors to indoor warmth is direct sunshine that enters through glazed windows and doors. One sure way to remedy this is to use curtains to block out direct sun rays. This effectively reduces the temperature of the interior and thus reduces the air conditioning demands.
In conclusion, there are many ways to reduce the amount of electricity your air conditioner consumes. Some are simple and easy to do, while others may require a bit more effort. But all of them can help you save money on your electric bill, and help conserve energy. So give them a try.