Is there a way to reduce the amount of energy your central air conditioner uses?

Answer 1

The U.S. Department of Energy offers these tips: Set your thermostat at 78°F or higher. Each degree setting below 78°F will increase your energy consumption by approximately 8%. Use bath and kitchen fans sparingly when the air conditioner is operating. Check and clean both indoor and outdoor coils periodically. Dirt build-up on the indoor coil is the single most common cause of poor efficiency. Check the refrigerant charge. You may need a service contractor to check the fluid and adjust it appropriately. Shade east and west windows. When possible, delay heat-generating activities, such as dish washing, until the evening on hot days. Keep the house closed tight during the day. Don't let in unwanted heat and humidity. If practical, ventilate at night either naturally or with fans. Try not to use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder. [From Reducing Your Central Air Conditioner's Energy Use at The U.S. Department of Energy Website] I would also add that you replace all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs generate a lot of waste heat that the AC must get rid of. You should only use compact fluorescent bulbs where it is dry and not in an enclosed fixture (an enclosed fixture will reduce the life of the bulb). Also, consider how much you will be using the light. It is better to replace only the bulbs that will be on for more than 15 minutes at a time. Also note that compact fluorescents cannot be used with dimmers. These bulbs not only put out less waste heat for the AC to get rid of, but they save considerable energy to light the bulb (as far as brightness, a 26W compact fluorescent equals about 100W incandescent bulb).