The extreme heat is a part of life for those of us who live in Arizona. Many homeowners struggle with the rising costs of keeping their homes cool, but an energy efficient air conditioning system offers a much better solution.
You are likely looking for ways to save energy. Energy efficient air conditioning is one part of this. This isn’t just about comfort; it’s about making smart choices for your wallet and the environment.
Understanding Energy Efficient Air Conditioning
Energy efficiency is the key to lowering utility bills. Systems with higher SEER ratings mean lower bills and using less power overall. While you may understand the SEER ratings, what you might not know is what makes systems more efficient and that there’s more than just the system itself that can offer better efficiency.
According to Energystar.gov, nearly half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. To maximize the efficiency and comfort of your HVAC system, there are a few things you can do. For instance, proper installation of these systems is vital to getting the most out of an energy efficient air conditioner. To start with, prior to installation, a contractor must ensure proper sizing for your equipment for your house, and install Energy Star certified equipment. They should also ensure proper sealing of ducting and plenums during installation, which can increase efficiency up to 20%. Hiring certified and professional technicians to complete the installation is a very crucial part to making your home more efficient.
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Key Components of Efficiency
Variable-speed motors can adjust the airflow based on what’s happening in each moment. The motors are really important with optimizing efficiency as temperatures change indoors and outdoors.
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating shows how efficient the system is. Higher ratings on this directly reduce usage; meaning the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient it is.
Another key aspect you may not know is the system’s learning capabilities. Certain modern features incorporate a communicating thermostat which automatically communicates with the system to adjust the settings to maintain the temperature by using AI-driven algorithms to reduce wasted air conditioning use. Many people just “set and forget” with their unit without knowing it might cost them extra cash when things change day-to-day.
Choosing the Right System
In air conditioning, the “conditioning” part means to remove the humidity from the air. Although a larger system will move more air, a system that’s too big won’t do well removing humidity which is key to comfort. While the bigger systems will move more air and cool the room quicker, the average thermostat will only read air temperature and shut off when that temp is met. Cooling faster means that the system does not run as long and not enough air passes over the coils and the house remains somewhat humid. Conversely, you would think a unit that is too small will always fail at giving you enough of what is needed, but that is not the full truth either.
Getting the correct system size needs precise math formulas and heat load calculations. Most rooms tend to have shapes that go beyond squares and need deeper equations to fully grasp. This all falls into air balancing, which is another topic for another day.
Here is an overview table to know a properly sized air conditioner:
Area To Be Cooled (square feet) | Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour) |
100 up to 150 | 5,000 |
150 up to 250 | 6,000 |
250 up to 300 | 7,000 |
300 up to 350 | 8,000 |
350 up to 400 | 9,000 |
400 up to 450 | 10,000 |
450 up to 550 | 12,000 |
550 up to 700 | 14,000 |
700 up to 1,000 | 18,000 |
1,000 up to 1,200 | 21,000 |
1,200 up to 1,400 | 23,000 |
1,400 up to 1,500 | 24,000 |
1,500 up to 2,000 | 30,000 |
2,000 up to 2,500 | 34,000 |
While these are rough sizes, there is also a general thought that a system should have 1 ton of cooling (12,000 BTUs) per 400 sqft. I prefer to use the mix that rule up a bit and use 1 ton of cooling for every 500 sqft ensuring the system does not cool too quickly and leave the humidity in the air.
Beyond the Unit: Smart Features
Smart thermostats are becoming the way to go for any HVAC system. You can adjust a smart thermostat using any modern smart device you can take with you wherever you are. Homeowners can optimize the temperatures in their house just by changing the settings remotely.
Newer thermostat systems are also capable of keeping track of total energy consumption and they learn your patterns, which allows your system to improve over time. The future is all about installing energy efficient systems and using these smart improvements.
Installation Considerations
A key factor for optimal performance is the quality of installation of your AC.
HVAC experts often give solutions using several key factors that might be confusing or new to property owners, but they are necessary for proper functionality. Professionals follow precise guidelines for very specific reasons.
Properly sealing all ductwork and plenum attachments is paramount for efficiency. Using mastic sealant with any duct work you have helps to reduce escaping air.
Where you place the condensing unit will impact total effectiveness as well. Questions to ask about this: Can it breathe properly? Is it completely surrounded by landscaping? Is it shaded?
Thermostat location is also very important. For example, if they are too close to your hot windows or in the warmer part of the house, they will cause the system to run longer, which is a critical ‘’don’t’ for keeping energy costs lower.
Insulation’s Impact
Another factor often not considered by the majority of homeowners is insulation. Sealing all gaps is critical to reducing excess waste from your HVAC.
Another step, insulation in your attic can go a long way. It’s amazing how powerful adding new or refreshing older and worn-out materials will really help.
Another vital, but not thought about solution involves checking if your windows are the most energy efficient double pane options.
The reality is, doing your due diligence goes a very long way when taking energy savings seriously. Many homeowners do not put forth the extra steps on their end and over time they really struggle. Doing these things may seem really expensive upfront, but in the long run, they will have a greater impact than you know.
Maintenance and Upkeep
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Consistent servicing of your HVAC system does play a significant role with any energy you end up consuming over the long term. Making your home energy efficient has never been a one step fix for anyone either.
Many consumers get busy with life and then end up suffering. When doing regular upkeep you allow HVAC technicians to properly address minor problems and maintain your system’s efficiency.
Schedule an Estimate
Request your estimate online and experience the Big Sky difference—quality service, upfront pricing, and comfort you can count on!
Alternative Cooling Options
If standard air conditioning is outside of your budget or current capabilities, are there alternatives to air conditioning? Of course there is.
Using regular fans will improve how things feel to your skin in hot climates. Although this will not change the climate itself like an air conditioning system does, you can at least create a minor and easier condition on hot days too.
Conclusion
The use of energy efficient air conditioning helps by making cooling your home less expensive in the long run. Doing some minor things to help your HVAC system and some other home improvements will do a lot more than simply improve on energy costs, it can extend the lifespan of your HVAC system. Using improved engineering to the world’s benefit as well as homeowners and properties, these changes and upgrades are the ultimate way of reducing unwanted costs, frustrations and poor cooling and heating conditions.
