CENTRAL COAST — Temperatures are on the rise and summer is just around the corner. But you won’t have to keep your home’s air conditioning unit cranked up throughout the coming months just to stay cool. In fact, with a few tips from the County’s emPower program, you’ll be able to beat the heat, all while conserving energy and creating a more comfortable and healthier home.
- Seal leaks – Plugging up the cracks in your home is an important step in improving energy efficiency. Small crevices and gaps often found in or around windows, doors and walls can add up to a hula-hoop size hole in a home, allowing warm air and allergens to slip into the home. You can grab a caulking gun to seal some yourself, but to get them all – including the ones you can’t see — emPower can help connect you with a qualified local contractor.
- Replace or seal forced air ducts – It’s OK to switch on your air conditioner now and then when it’s really cooking outside, but you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the most out of the energy you use. Making sure your ducts are properly sealed, insulated and installed can improve the efficiency of a central air conditioning unit by 20 percent. You can start by sealing and connecting seems with mastic duct sealant or metal-backed tape. A qualified contractor can help you take the project further.
- Replace AC unit with an energy efficient one – It may also be time to upgrade to a new ENERGY STAR certified central air conditioner. Replacing that old AC unit you’ve been using since the ‘80s could cut your cooling bill in half.
- Use a ceiling fan – Using an ENERGY STAR ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4 degrees without a reduction in comfort. However, fans cool people, not rooms. Make sure to turn the fan off when you leave the room.
- Open windows at night – For those cool nights, you can save some energy by shutting off the air conditioner and leaving a window open while you sleep. When you wake up in the morning, shut the windows and blinds to keep the cool air inside.
- Light homes with LEDs –Replacing old incandescent lightbulbs with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), will not only save energy but will also help keep the home cooler. Only about 10 to 15 percent of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in light—the rest is turned into heat. LEDs also use 70-90 percent less energy and can last 25 times longer, so you won’t have to replace them as often.
Small changes can go a long ways toward making your home healthier and more comfortable this summer. And there’s plenty emPower can do to help if you’re interested in tackling a bigger project. You can sign up for a free home energy site visit from an emPower Energy Coach for help identifying issues like leaky ducts, drafty windows and poorly installed insulation.
emPower can also connect you with local contractors who are well qualified to take care of these troubles and can make a project like installing a new air conditioner a breeze, figuratively and literally. emPower can also lend you a hand in obtaining utility incentives and low-interest unsecured financing. For more, visit www.empowersbc.org.
About emPower Central Coast: The emPower program offers voluntary incentives, financing and other services to help single-family homeowners in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties make home energy upgrades easier and more affordable. emPower was originally established by Santa Barbara County to help the community preserve the environment by helping to lower energy consumption and stimulate the economy by creating jobs through innovative, voluntary solutions to support a sustainable building performance market.
emPower is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Southern California Gas Company, Southern California Edison Company and Pacific Gas and Electric Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission, the US Department of Energy Better Buildings program and the California Energy Commission with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars. emPower’s low cost financing is offered in partnership with Coast Hills Credit Union and Ventura County Credit Union. More information at www.empowersbc.org.