Cooperative Living June 2020 - 27

CloserLook | by Derrill Holly, Contributing Writer
SUMMER SAVINGS:
EnergyEfficiency
Upgrades
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June's warmer weather has you
thinking about the sultry summer
months ahead, this could be a great
time to consider energy-saving options
and make plans to help control your
energy costs.
HVAC TUNE-UP
Spending a few dollars at the
beginning of the season can add up
to big savings and help you avoid
expensive surprises and system failures.
A qualified service technician with
the right skills and equipment will
check key components like the
compressor and condenser, clean the
coils and inspect the ductwork. A
technician may also offer advice on
how to get the most value out of your
programmable thermostat.
According to experts, sealing and
insulating ductwork can improve the
overall efficiency of your HVAC by
as much as 20%. Consider replacing
systems that are more than 10 years
old (or those that no longer keep
your home comfortable) with a highefficiency
system that is properly sized
and designed to meet your needs.
GAIN INSIGHTS FROM
ENERGY AUDITS
Professional advice is a good place to
start when it comes to energy efficiency
and getting real value for your home
improvement dollars.
Your local electric cooperative
might be able to recommend trained
energy advisors who can conduct
comprehensive assessments and provide
recommendations to control energy
costs.
Energy audits include examination
of heating, cooling and water heating
co-opliving.com
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equipment, as well as interior and
exterior lighting. Other available
services can include inspections and
assessments of windows, crawl spaces
and other voids for air leaks, which
can degrade HVAC performance.
SMALL CHANGES ADD SAVINGS
When the goal is keeping the house
cool and comfortable, remembering that
any activities adding heat and humidity
to your air-conditioned spaces can
increase your costs.
Open doors don't just allow people
to come and go. They also provide an
instant exchange of cooler inside air for
warm, moist air, much the same as the
cooling effect you experience when
standing in front of an open refrigerator.
A cooler stocked with cold drinks and
chilled snacks and placed outdoors can
help cut down on household traffic
on hot summer days.
During summer months, consider
using smaller appliances like a slow
cooker to eliminate heat gain in
the kitchen.
When cooking, consider using
smaller appliances like a slow cooker.
Better yet, take the extra heat from
cooking outdoors and fire up the grill.
Ceiling fans operating in airconditioned
space can make you feel
about 4 degrees cooler while you are
in the room. But the benefits only
occur when a room is occupied. Make
it a habit to turn off the fan when you
leave the room. ■
Derrill Holly writes on consumer and
cooperative affairs for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association, the
national trade association representing
electric co-ops in Virginia, Maryland
and Delaware, and across the country.
June 2020 | Cooperative Living | 25
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT VAN OSDOL
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living June 2020

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