Heating and Cooling

When you live in a desert climate like ours – hot summer days and cold winter nights – you should consider replacing your older central air conditioner or heating system with an ENERGY STAR qualified unit. A central A/C unit is designed to last 12-15 years, so the older your equipment, the more likely it is inefficient and unreliable. Your A/C quality contractor can help you decide whether it’s time to replace your old model with premium efficiency equipment. Newer energy efficient models can reduce your utility costs, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Look for ENERGY STAR equipment with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, of 14 or higher as these models offer higher energy savings. In fact, if all California households with old, inefficient (SEER 11 or lower) central air conditioners upgraded to ENERGY STAR qualified models, it would be the energy saving equivalent of taking 278,000 cars off the road. summer_energy_saving

Have your new energy efficient systems installed by a licensed heating and cooling contractor, and be sure to have a professional return annually to service the units.
After ensuring you have energy efficient equipment, there are additional ways you can reduce your energy footprint at little or no cost:

• When cooling your home, increase your thermostat by 3-5 degrees when you are home; set it to 85 degrees or higher or turn your A/C off when you leave.

• When heating your home, reduce your thermostat by 3-5 degrees when you are home; set it to 55 degrees or lower or turn off your heater when you leave. Lowering the temperature 3-5 degrees can save you up to 20% on heating costs.
• Regularly inspect, clean or change the air filters in your central air conditioners, furnace and/or heat pump. Dirty filters limit air flow and increase energy use.

• Ensure that any air leaks are properly sealed and your home has the proper insulation to increaser your home’s comfort and reduce your heating and cooling bills.

Comprehensive energy saving information can also be found on the following websites: www.sce.com, www.flexyourpower.org, and www.energystar.gov .