Tips for a More Efficient Central Air Conditioning System

There many actions that can be taken to improve your A/C efficiency of your home or business. Commercical or residential we find that too often customers own a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that is too large or too small for their home or business. Heating and cooling your home can often be complex and confusing. With all the terminology and choices, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to find the system that best fits your home’s needs.

High-efficiency systems can provide much-needed relief from rising utility bills and energy costs, while also helping you do something positive for your community and the environment. The average household will pay $2,300 this year on energy costs, with heating alone accounting for almost 45 percent of that total. (Source: Alliance to Save Energy).

Schedule preventative maintenance before the summer cooling and winter heating seasons begin. Asking a professional to check your system will increase the life of the system, improve energy efficiency, reduce pollutants and save money.
A dirty filter can restrict airflow and increase energy use in your home. Replace or clean filters once a month during operating seasons.

Programmable thermostats, are designed to maximize the performance of your home comfort system with reliable and accurate temperature control. The average annual savings for programmable thermostats is about $100, and they often pay for themselves in two years or less.

Many home owners are focused upon what the previous A/C contractor has sold them or installed with the label reading 22 SEERS, 18 SEERS etc. on the air handler or condenser unit. Package or rooftop units have the same labeling of an HVAC air conditioning unit that is rated as a high SEER device in the box; however, when the unit is installed in a home, the efficiency the system actually delivers in the home varies due to certain home variables. For example efficiency can go down due to factors such as mentioned earlier wrong size system, home attic insulation, home total R-value, Home orientation, window size, old windows, doorways, improper air flow, mismatched coils and leaking ducts. These are reasons why it is important to make sure your HVAC system is installed properly so you’re getting the most efficiency possible from your system.

Rated efficiency applies to HVAC systems that are rated in laboratory conditions assuming the refrigerant charge and system airflow is 100 percent accurate. Applied efficiency is what the system actually delivers once it’s charged and installed in your home in real world conditions.

Seventy percent of HVAC systems do not have the correct air flow - which impacts energy efficiency (according to the Environmental Protection Agency).

Almost 74 percent of HVAC systems have an improper amount of refrigerant - which can impact performance by up to 15 percent - resulting in higher energy costs, reduced reliability and faster wear and tear because systems do not operate at maximum efficiency.

Potential energy use comparing an 8-SEER system to a 20-SEER high-efficiency system. Actual energy savings will vary depending on many factors including your lifestyle, system settings, maintenance, climate and installation.

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Solar Powered Residential Air Conditioning - Get Ready for the Next Wave of Energy Efficiency

It may seem like an oxymoron powering the very machine with the energy source that the machine is working to combat. But yes, the sun is being used to power air conditioners and hopefully we will all be able to evolve to using solar powered air conditioning in the near future!

Solar panels are used to passively collect solar energy then convert the energy to electricity via photovoltaic conversion.

The U.S. Energy Independence And Security Act of 2007, created 2008 through 2012, funding for a new solar air conditioning research and development program. This project is working to promote a lesser need for power and therefore relieve us of the outrageous electric bills we pay in order to stay cool during the summer heat. It is also an environment-friendly cause, since there are less carbon emissions with solar powered air conditioning.

Contrary to what many may believe, solar air conditioning is able to supply cool air even in the evening when the sun isn't shining. This is because the solar panels collect and store the energy from the sunlight during sunny hours. So you can still use it even when there is no sunshine.

Solar air conditioners are now obtainable and are slowly gaining popularity, because of the guaranteee for lower utility bills. Being nice to the planet is good incentive too!

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Central Air Conditioning and Heating Systems for Lower Utility Bills - 3 Important Criteria

In the U.S. almost all of the new homes constructed are installing central air conditioning and heating systems. The systems also have great filters and dehumidifiers which are helpful for asthmatics and allergy sufferers. The new systems keep the rooms at a comfortable temperature throughout the day and are more energy efficient than ever before. The energy efficiency of the newer systems is so great that people are realizing they will save so much money in the long run by investing in a new system for their older homes as well. Whether you are getting a central air conditioning and heating system for a new or older home, be sure to understand these 3 important criteria.

1) BTUs (British Thermal Units)
To have your central air conditioning and heating system operating at its' most efficient it is imperative that you get the right size unit for your home.Every air conditioner has a cooling capacity number which is its' BTU (British Thermal Units) value. The higher the BTU value,the stronger the air conditioner. However it's not efficient to automatically get the unit with the most BTUs. It is actually possible for a unit to be too powerful. If you buy a unit that's too large you could be throwing money away. The smaller the area, the fewer BTUs are needed. Normally 12,000 BTUs are needed for each 1,000 square feet of well insulated space. If the space is not well insulated then 12,000 BTUs are needed for every 400 square feet of space. If the ceilings are extremely high, these numbers will change since the same area will take much longer to cool and heat. HVAC Contractors are well trained in knowing all factors to consider when deciding how many BTUs a unit must have for a specific home.

2) SEER Rating (The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
The SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating is the next important criteria to consider when you want a central air conditioning and heating system that helps you to have lower utility bills. The performance of your heating and cooling system is determined in a large part by your HVAC equipment's operating efficiency. The SEER rating of a unit is the cooling output in BTUs during a typical cooling/heating-season divided by the total electric energy input in watt hours during the same period. Each "matched system" - an outdoor compressor bearing unit that matches with an indoor unit - is tested and awarded an Energy Efficiency Rating, sort of like a miles per gallon (mpg) rating for your car. The higher the unit's SEER rating the more energy efficient it is. In the past it was normal for a central air conditioning and heating system to have a SEER rating of 7 to 11. But now with modern technology and vast improvements in energy efficiency expect to find SEER ratings of 13.

3) ENERGY STAR
The ENERGY STAR is one more criterion which your central air conditioner and heating system should have. The ENERGY STAR certifies that the system consumes less energy than other models. ENERGY STAR is the tried and true, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. The Energy Star was developed to assist the public in saving money and working towards protecting the environment through energy saving features and practices.

Products gain the ENERGY STAR label by reaching requirements set forth in ENERGY STAR product specifications for energy efficiency. The EPA establishes these specifications based on key principles such as the contribution of energy savings, consumer demanded features and verifiable energy consumption and performance.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Central-Air-Conditioning-and-Heating-Systems-for-Lower-Utility-Bills---3-Important-Criteria&id=5896573] Central Air Conditioning and Heating Systems for Lower Utility Bills - 3 Important Criteria