Air Conditioning
At Home
Air conditioning can consume a large amount of electricity, especially during the summer.
The list of tips below will help you improve the efficiency with which you cool your home. Using natural window ventilation, limiting heat sources in your home, and avoiding over conditioning your home are some of the ways that you can take action. When buying a new air conditioning system, make sure that it is EnerGuide and ENERGY STAR qualified.
For more information on how to save energy cooling your home, please consult Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE).
Tips
Temperature setting
•Set you air conditioner at 24ºC to 27ºC. Raise the temperature when you go out and lower it at night for sleeping. If you go away for more than a day, turn off your air conditioning system. A programmable thermostat can help you to regulate your air conditioner use. Quick Fact: 1
Limit sources of heat
•Seal air leaks in windows with weather stripping. Check insulation in attic and exterior walls.
•Keep windows and doors tightly closed when air conditioning is on.
•Prevent direct sunlight from entering your home by using blinds, drapes or awnings.
•Use a gas barbecue as much as possible during hot weather to avoid heating up your home from indoor cooking and increasing your air conditioning needs.
•Plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your house to provide shade and reduce your air conditioning bill in the summer. Quick Fact: 1
•Plant a tree near your air conditioner to provide shade so that it does not have to work as hard and uses less energy.
•Reduce the use of heat-generating items such as lights and appliances.
•Use natural window ventilation when the outside temperature is cooler.
Maintenance
•Clean your air conditioner air filter at least once each year and have your central air conditioning unit inspected every two to three years to make sure it is running efficiently.
•Have your air conditioner inspected to see if the refrigerant needs to be recharged soon and ensure that it not leaking ozone-depleting substances into the environment.
New air conditioner or ceiling fan
•Perform an EnerGuide house evaluation before buying a new air conditioner to first understand how to lower your cooling requirements. Then buy a properly sized unit that matches your needs.
•When buying a new air conditioner, decide whether you need to air condition your whole house. Consider ceiling fans or room air conditioners before investing in a central air conditioning unit.
•Install ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fans and change the direction of the fan so that it pushes warm air down in the winter and pulls warm air up in the summer.
•When buying an air conditioner, ensure that it is ENERGY STAR qualified. Quick Fact: 1
