Tips To Help Cool DownAir-Conditioning Costs (NAPSA)—Whentemperaturesrise, many people automatically crank up the air conditioners to stay cool. However, it may surprise them to learn that air conditioners use about 5 percent of all electricity produced in the U.S., costing homeowners more than $11 billion a year in energy expenses. ‘The good newsis that by following somepractical tips at home, you can stay ideas to consider: You can save energy and money by letting the sun shinein on cool days, closing your shadesagainst the heat on hotones. ing: Upgrading your system can have a big effect on yourutility bills—and your up on the market, including wall- and floor-mounted, slim duct and compact energy-efficient heating and cooling products on the market—ductless minisplit systems—can save you as much as 30 percent onyourutility bills. Rebates and Tax Incentives: To encourage homeowners to buy energy-efficient products and reduce greenhouse cool, save money and even help the en- vironment. Here are a few energy-saving Energy-Efficient Heating and Cool- cassette indoorunits. comfort—year-round. In fact, the most ~~ gases, many utility companies offer re- bates on qualified products. To estimate how much money you could save on a ductless mini-split system, you can visit the efficiency calculator on constant comfort.com. The federal stimulus package also offers significant tax credits to homeowners who invest in new insulation and energy-efficient windows and heating/cooling systems. Quick Fixes: Small changes can have a big effect on your utility bill as well. Try to use heat-producing appliances—stoves, irons and dryers—at night or early morning. Switch to LED lightbulbs instead of incandescent bulbs— which consume 90 percent more power. Indoor Unit With a ductless system, you can have different temperatures in each room of your house. Seal air leaks around windows, doors, and places where pipes and wires come through walls. Check existing caulking and weatherstripping for gapsor cracks. Window Treatments: These can work to your advantage, too. Close all windows and coverings to keep your How does a ductless mini-split system work? Thin copper tubing is used to pumprefrigerant from an outdoor compressor directly into an indoor house cool. Dark-colored curtains, Roman shades, even discount store roll- air-handling unit, where the air is qui- etly distributed to the interior space. ‘This eliminates the need for basement or attic evaporators and bulky, expensive ductwork. Mini-splits are easy to install and usually require only a 3- to 4-inch hole through a wall or ceiling to connect the indoor and outdoorunits. Ductless mini-split systems also let you control the individual temperature in each room. This means you don't have er shades can be very effective. Solar screens, or meshlike window screens, intercept up to 70 percent of solar en- ergy before it gets into the house, and installing awnings can reduce solar heat gain by as much as 77 percent, according to the U.S. Departmentof Energy. Whenit comes to beating the heat, there is no need to suffer high utility bills. There are many actions you can take to reduce your energy expenses. You can change some everyday habits or invest in a new energy-efficient heat- to waste moneycoolingor heating spac- es that you're not using—such as guest bedrooms, bonus rooms, sunrooms and basements. Ductless systems operate at efficiency levels far above central ing and cooling system. Many Fujitsu forced-air systems and windowunits, as duct losses in a central AC system can account for more than 30 percent of your energy consumption. Fujitsu Gen- systems with the Energy Star rating are more than twiceasefficient as the minimum standard set by the government. To learn more or find a contrac- tor nearby, call (888) 888-3424 or visit eral, a leading mini-split manufacturer, www.constantcomfort.com. offers the most energy-efficient line- Navara
