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| How to Save on Air Conditioning Costs? | If you possess central air conditioning or a window air conditioning unit, you may considerably reduce your expenses on electricity, particularly in hot climatic zones, if you pursue these energy-saving hints. 
• If you want to purchase a window air conditioner, consider its size, taking into consideration the proportion of the room itself and other aspects, such as the number of windows, the side it faces: west, north, etc., that influences the temperature in the room. If an air conditioners too large for the apartment, it will operate tough and be much more expensive.
• When you are looking for an air conditioning system, make certain the SEER number (seasonal energy efficiency rate) is 13 or 14 (for hot climates.) If the system is less effective, it will have a higher price.
For room air conditioning units the Energy Efficiency Ratio should be no less than 11. A very effective unit is more expensive, though if you reside in a hot area, it will pay its way, cutting down your expenses.
• Carry out regular protection of your air conditioner. You should change the filter each month in a cold season and have a professional inspection at the beginning of every cold time of year.
• A conditioning system is one of the greatest consumers at your house (after the heating system). In case your cooling system has less than 8 SEER rate, it would be better to substitute it with a more modern and energy saving system. Using this new system, you will compensate all expenses for several years.
• Make certain your air conditioning condenser is set in a shadow and has space to handle the hot air it takes away from your home. Do not fill it with planting or any different stuff.
• Plant thick trees and bushes near your home in order to lessen the sun heat, particularly on the southern and western sides. This may help you save your expenses up to 30 %.
• Close curtains in the rooms from the sunny side of your home.
• Place some sheds on the windows from the sun-drenched side of your apartment.
• Sealing up the windows in your home will cut your costs on conditioning and heating. Close up places where public facilities such as dryer vents, electricity, plumbing, etc., get into your house. Caulk leaks around chimneys. Obdurate around draughty windows and doors.
• Set up energy saving ceiling ventilators and turn them on in hot weather. If it is not too hot, run the ventilator without air conditioner. But if it is scorching, use both air conditioner and ceiling ventilator that allows you to increase the temperature by 5 degrees that will cut your expenses. Switch the ceiling ventilator on only when you are at home. In fact, the ceiling fan doesn’t make the temperature lower, it only moves the air, increasing the evaporation from your outer skin and aiding you to chill off.
• The color of your home influences the amount of heat it absorbs, that is why if you want to build, buy or repair the house, try to select lighter colors for the outer walls.
• 30 % of the warmth in your apartment comes through the attic, that is why make certain your garret is well aerated. Vent ducts in the loft let colder air be absorbed. An edge vent or a roof ventilator may considerably cut your expenses on cooling.
• Think about reflective window shade on the windows to retrench the heat taken form outside.
• Any amount of heat produced in your house is to be eliminated by the cooling system that is why it is better to reduce generating heat whenever possible. Use your microwave oven and cook outdoors in favorable circumstances. Install the cooking hood in your kitchen.
• Shut all rooms you do not use and plug all pipes to those rooms.
• Make certain the chilled air running from your air conditioning vent ducts is not hindered by some pieces of furniture and curtains.
• Switch off all lamps when unnecessary. Lights generate heat that brings your air conditioning system work more intensive.
• Your household electrical devices also produce heat. Switch them off when you don’t use them.
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