The summer weather in Southwest Louisiana is hot and humid, which is why the indoor cooling load in our area is so extreme. In Scott, LA, air conditioning is a necessity, and electricity bills are usually very high. For many homeowners, the cost of running an air conditioner can account for as much as 60 percent of the total power consumed during the summer months. Whether your focus is on reducing monthly utility bills or lowering your family’s environmental impact, slightly altering your daily living habits can make your home more comfortable, healthy and fuel efficient.

Improving Energy Efficiency

There are many simple and inexpensive ways to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system. In most cases, these strategies will significantly reduce annual cooling costs without sacrificing indoor comfort.
AC Maintenance: Preventive maintenance is the single best investment HVAC equipment owners can make in order to minimize operating costs. Factory trained technicians make semiannual visits to your home or office to complete a variety of inspections, tests and other important services. Routine maintenance will restore lost efficiency and expose minor problems before they can affect system performance. Lee’s Air Conditioning offers flexible maintenance plans designed to fit every budget and system configuration.
Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans are an inexpensive way to move conditioned air, which helps create an even level of comfort throughout the room. Since moving air helps perspiration evaporate faster, heat dissipates from your body more quickly. A ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting without sacrificing comfort.
Change Filters: Clogged and dirty central filters create an additional restriction in the airflow of a central AC system. This causes the equipment to work harder and longer in order to satisfy the indoor load, which will increase electricity consumption and raise utility costs. Disposable filters should be changed every month, and cabinet filters should be inspected regularly and changed quarterly.
Summer Thermostat Settings: The thermostat setting has a significant impact on electricity usage. The number of cycles your air conditioner runs in a day is directly related to the difference in temperature between the indoor and outdoor environment. The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. It is important to remember that for each degree your thermostat is set below 78, the cost of running your air conditioner is raised approximately eight percent.
Window Screens: Glass that is exposed to the sun can be a major source of thermal gain in the summer. Single pane windows that were installed in homes built before the early 2000s are especially inefficient. Installing solar screens can eliminate up to 90 percent of the sun’s thermal heat energy. Placing screens over windows with a west or east exposure will keep your home cooler and can help eliminate fabric fading and wood splitting.
Developing an Energy Savings Strategy

A complete energy savings strategy starts with a free HVAC equipment evaluation. At Lee’s Air Conditioning, we offer a complete array of air conditioning products that will help get your monthly cooling costs under control. Please feel free to explore our website and call one of our friendly comfort specialists to learn more about the benefits of owning a high efficiency HVAC system.