To many people, the lovely sunny summer days provide the perfect outdoor weather. But inside the house, it’s a different story. The high temperatures require constant air conditioning to make the living spaces bearable and livable. The thought of skyrocketing energy bills is enough to rain on even the happiest parade.
But worry not! There are numerous environment-friendly ways to keep your home cool without breaking the bank. This article will discuss eco-friendly ways to cool your home while saving money and protecting the planet. Let’s get into it.
1. Make Repairs a Priority
Your eco-friendly cooling checklist should begin with fixing your HVAC system issues. Poor maintenance and faulty components, including refrigerant line leaks or broken parts, compromise cooling efficiency and waste energy. You can resolve these issues simply by scheduling HVAC repair and maintenance promptly. Professional repairs guarantee your system functions optimally, lowering energy consumption and saving money on utility bills.
Keeping your AC system in good shape is a proactive strategy to maximize energy efficiency while extending your equipment’s lifespan. In turn, preventing energy loss is a step towards going green. Professional HVAC technicians also know to locate hidden problems and make the necessary fixes, keeping your system in good working order all summer. Here is the point. Let trained specialists handle HVAC system repair and maintenance. Using an AC unit that doesn’t waste energy is an eco-friendly way to cool your home.
2. Don’t DIY HVAC Work
Humans have an inherent desire to try out things. It’s normal to feel the desire to fix your AC system. Without the necessary skills and understanding, attempting HVAC work can result in system damage, exacerbating the problem. According to Energy Star, poor installation can impair system efficiency by up to 30%, increasing utility costs and possibly shortening the equipment’s lifespan. For this reason, you should contact a heating and cooling professional for heating or AC installation, repair, and maintenance without risking shoddy work.
Experts boast an in-depth understanding of heating and cooling systems, which helps them identify problems and offer the best solutions. They have the requisite skills and tools to handle complex issues, whether installing a new AC, repairing refrigerant leaks, or improving airflow inside the system. Additionally, HVAC experts stay current with industry best practices and standards, ensuring that repairs follow safety laws. They can make insightful suggestions for energy-efficient renovations or replacements in line with eco-friendly ways to cool your home. Engaging with professionals guarantees that your system operates at its full potential, maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.
3. Only Use AC When Necessary
Use your air conditioning only when need be to save energy and promote an environmentally responsible approach to eco-friendly ways to cool your home. There is no point running your AC if you will be away from home for a day or two. Remember, heating and cooling constitute the bulk of home energy consumption. According to the Energy Information Administration, about 12% of household energy costs in the United States are related to air conditioning. However, using the AC sparingly can lower energy use and bills and reduce carbon footprint.
You can also learn about energy-saving techniques and get recommendations from home AC services based on your unique cooling requirements. These experts also inform you of the best temperature settings and configurations to use the least energy. They can integrate and guide you using smart thermostats, automatically adjusting cooling and heating temperature settings to achieve optimal performance. This proactive method saves energy and helps you save money on your utility bills.
4. Install a Smart Thermostat
Let’s discuss smart thermostats in detail. As mentioned, integrating a smart thermostat can be a game-changer if you plan to install an air conditioner. It’s up there among the eco-friendly ways to cool your home. A smart thermostat has advanced features and automated settings that help you get the most out of your AC.
Essentially, it sends signals to the AC depending on your temperature setting. For instance, it can turn the AC on and off and send a signal to the AC to lower the temperature if the reading surpasses the set limit. Over time, these devices can create a custom cooling plan based on your daily habits and how often you are at home. So, your AC will only run when needed, and it won’t cool your house when there is no one or it’s already cool.
Smart thermostats also let you change the settings and check your home’s temperature from your smartphone or other linked devices. If your plans change at the last minute, you can use this function to change how you use your AC. Also, you can fine-tune how your AC works by connecting your thermostat to occupancy sensors or weather reports. Including a smart thermostat in your AC installation enables you to tap and use technology to enhance the sustainability of your living spaces.
5. Use Shade to Your Advantage
Did you know tree shade is an effective eco-friendly way to cool your home? Research by FirstEnergy Corp states that strategically placed trees can cut a household’s energy use for heating and cooling by up to 25%. Consider hiring a tree service and landscapers to design and maintain trees in your yard. If you don’t have shade-providing trees yet, arborists can help you choose suitable tree species by considering growth patterns, canopy size, and how well the tree will do in your environment.
Ideally, you should position trees well to provide valuable shade for windows, walls, and outdoor living areas. This is where a thoughtful landscape design comes in handy to ensure the trees match your exterior design and contribute to a naturally cooler environment. When well distanced, the trees effectively block the sun’s rays and reduce excessive reliance on air conditioning.
Besides trees, you can create shaded areas within your outdoor spaces by incorporating pergolas, trellises, or shade sails. These additions help lower surface temperatures and manage water evaporation, harnessing nature’s inherent cooling effect. You can create a naturally cooler environment by leveraging trees and well-designed landscapes, reducing energy consumption and enhancing overall comfort.
6. Invest in Sun-Blocking Window Treatments
Still on shade, one of the eco-friendly ways to cool your home is by purchasing sun-blocking window coverings. These window treatments provide a practical and efficient approach to reduce heat gain, direct sunshine, and maintain a more comfortable temperature inside your home. They are made to reflect or deflect sunlight, blocking it from entering your living areas and necessitating overly intense air conditioning. Below are examples of window blinds and treatments.
- Blackout curtains: These curtains create a cooling effect when closed during the hottest times of the day. As a result, the curtains assist in maintaining a suitable house temperature without relying on air conditioning. The fabric used to make blackout curtains is thick and densely woven, effectively blocking sunlight and providing thermal insulation.
- Solar shades: These blinds have a view of the outside while using specific materials to filter and distribute sunlight. They minimize heat and glare while preserving natural light, making living spaces more comfortable.
- Reflective films: These films are placed directly on the glass surface and reflect solar light. They are crucial in maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures and promoting energy efficiency by blocking excess heat from entering windows.
These window treatments are designed to retain cool air inside the house while preventing the heat from seeping into your living spaces. As a result, your AC won’t be overworked. They help save energy and ultimately lower energy bills. In any case, films and shades don’t use any energy, meaning they are among the top eco-friendly ways to cool your home. Investing in these options can make your house more energy-efficient, support environmental initiatives, and still enjoy the benefits of a cooler and more pleasant environment.
7. Keep Your Air Ducts Clear
Dust, debris, allergens, and even mold can build up in air ducts over time, obstructing airflow and making your cooling system work harder. As a result, it uses more energy. For this reason, you should keep your air ducts clean to enhance airflow and cooling performance. Additionally, routine air duct cleaning boosts the HVAC system’s performance to promote energy efficiency and a healthier interior environment.
Air duct cleaning isn’t as simple as it sounds. It’s advisable to seek expert services. Professional air duct cleaning services use specialized equipment to clean the ductwork, eliminating accumulated dust. The cleaning job should extend to the HVAC system. According to National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), a dirty HVAC system can use up to 30% more energy to heat or cool the house, especially if the coils are dusty.
Cleaning your air ducts improves ventilation, which is especially beneficial for people with allergies or respiratory disorders. It also reduces energy use while extending your HVAC system’s life. When your system works optimally, it’s less likely to break down, requiring fewer expensive repairs or early replacements. NADCA recommends air duct cleaning every three to five years. However, immediately contact air duct cleaning specialists if you notice telltale signs of excessive dust, musty odors, or poor airflow. When you prioritize air duct cleaning as part of your eco-friendly ways to cool your home, you optimize airflow and enhance energy efficiency.
8. Don’t Skip Biannual Maintenance
How often do you conduct home maintenance? To keep your cooling system eco-friendly and energy-efficient, prioritize biannual AC maintenance. Your cooling system will run at its best and use minimal energy, with a negligible negative environmental impact.
Specialists thoroughly check and tune up your cooling system during the biannual AC maintenance. They look for problems, clean the parts, and make the required modifications to maximize efficiency. Scheduled maintenance prevents breakdowns and helps fix minor issues before they become severe and costly.
Additionally, well-maintained cooling systems are less likely to release dangerous refrigerants into the atmosphere. Some refrigerants, especially on old models, contribute to global warming. Regular upkeep helps contain and prevent refrigerant leaks, minimizing their adverse effects on the environment.
Embracing proactive AC maintenance is crucial in pursuing eco-friendly ways to cool your home. Not only does it enhance energy savings and decrease your environmental impact, but it also extends the lifespan of your AC system. Making AC maintenance a top priority ensures a comfortable, practical, and ecologically responsible home environment. If you haven’t engaged your AC specialist in six months, make that call immediately.
9. Make Sure Your Home Is Insulated
Proper insulation improves temperature performance, reduces noise, and controls moisture. It makes your home healthier and more comfortable for you and your family. According to Just Energy, homeowners can cut their energy costs by an average of 11% overall and 15% just on heating and cooling by installing insulation. This statistic shows how important it is to have a well-insulated home.
When you insulate your home well, you make a temperature barrier that helps keep air from leaking. Spray foam insulation is especially good at filling holes, gaps, and cracks. It creates a smooth layer of insulation that you can mold into any shape or size. This kind of insulation works as a barrier against air, stopping drafts and keeping the temperature inside the house the same all year long.
Work with a reputable local spray foam insulation company with vast knowledge and experience in high-quality insulation. These experts know what insulation solutions suit your home’s specific needs. So, if you’re looking for eco-friendly ways to cool your home, and lower your carbon footprint, consider calling a spray foam insulation company.
Using eco-friendly cooling techniques provides a win-win solution. These strategies create a comfortable living area while reducing energy use, utility costs, and environmental impact. Each tip is a step towards a sustainable future, whether prioritizing HVAC maintenance and repairs, utilizing the power of shade and landscaping, or ensuring that buildings are properly insulated. Adopting environmentally friendly cooling techniques improves air quality in home spaces and helps to slow down global warming and protect the environment for future generations. Use eco-friendly ways to cool your home, conserve electricity, and protect the earth.