People are becoming more and more aware of the benefits of going green. It can save you money, it’s better for the environment, and it can be better for your health. Wheat Ridge is a growing community, and it’s also one where the cost of living is above the average. Wheat Ridge residents are looking for ways to save money, and help the environment at the same time.
The first thing that you can do to go green and reduce your energy bills is to make sure that your air conditioner isn’t being overworked. Try not to overcool your home, even raising the temperature by a degree can reduce your bills. You can also put your thermostat on a timer so that it’s not on all day, but will come on to cool your home before you return. You should check your insulation, and seal your home from air leaks, as this can save you over $100 per year. If you have fans in your home, then use them. Fans can make you feel cooler, but they don’t use as much energy as your air conditioner does.
Keep your blinds closed. Heat can come in through your windows, but it can’t get back out through them. It becomes stuck in your home and adds to the heat of the Colorado summer. Keeping your blinds closed, especially ones on the side of your home where the sun hits, can help to reduce the heat in your home. If you have rooms in your home that aren’t used, then shut off the air conditioning to them. This reduces the area that your unit has to cool, and therefore, reduces its workload.
Keep your AC unit clean and maintained, so that it works as efficiently as possible. Inefficient units will raise your energy bills. If you have an old unit, then you should consider an AC replacement. You could try looking for wholesale air conditioners, which can be cheaper. Look for window air conditioners with an energy efficiency rating, or EER of at least 10. If you’re looking for a central air conditioner, then check the SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The laws in the United States require that this is at least 13, but you can find units with a SEER of 21.
If you’re replacing or repairing your unit, you should also check what refrigerant is being used. Older models can use Freon, which damages the Ozone layer. You could check to see if a more environmentally friendly alternative is available, and if it would be possible to change the refrigerant used in your unit.