June 24, 2005
Weather forecasts tell us
this weekend will be hot and humid. With summer just
beginning, this is surely a sign of things to come. To
help strike back at these summer scorchers, and to
control energy costs, NSTAR offers timely advice for
keeping the home and office cool.
Create your own wind chill – Ceiling fans help make a room feel more comfortable and allow you to adjust your thermostat for more energy savings. When humidity is high, set the fan speed on low for more comfort. The low speed on humid days will cool your home better and will remove more moisture from the air because of slower air movement through the cooling equipment. Make sure to turn your fan off when you leave the room, though. A ceiling fan doesn’t cool a room - it only cools you, through a wind-chill effect on the skin.
Keep air conditioners in the shade – An air conditioner operating in the shade uses as much as 10 percent less electricity than the same one operating in the sun. Consider planting trees or shrubs to shade air conditioners but not to block the airflow.
Keep the heat out – Sometimes very simple acts can make a big difference. Sunlight shining in windows usually adds the largest amount of unwanted summer heat, which only creates more warm air to keep cool inside. Block daytime sun with blinds, shades or drapes. Be sure not to block the air conditioning unit with drapes or furniture.
Make the most of programmable thermostats and timers – Why pay to keep the house cool when you’re not home? One of the most effective ways to reduce air conditioning costs is to set your programmable thermostat to 78 degrees or higher while you are out and then set it to automatically readjust to your preferred level an hour before you return. Built-in timers on room air conditioners also allow you to automatically control your home’s temperature.
Size your air conditioning equipment correctly – Bigger isn’t always better. Air conditioners that are too large fail to properly dehumidify the space, reducing comfort and costing more to operate. Proper sizing and installation are essential to maximize efficiency and performance, increasing your comfort and long-term savings.
Maintain cooling systems regularly – Properly maintaining equipment prevents future problems and added expenses. Qualified contractors can do annual pre-season check-ups to ensure that your central air conditioning is running as efficiently as possible.
Consider an upgrade – If your cooling system is more than 10 years old, consider upgrading to a new unit that has earned the EPA’s ENERGY STAR for high efficiency. Qualifying room and central air conditioners use new technology that uses up to 20 percent less energy without sacrificing comfort. Look for units with the highest Energy Efficiency Ratios for greater savings.
Make a change and get cash back
Residential customers of NSTAR Electric are eligible for a $25 mail-in rebate towards the purchase of a qualified ENERGY STAR room air conditioner through July 31, 2005 (limit two rebates per residential account). For more information, visit www.myenergystar.com or call toll-free 877-378-2748.
Residential customers of NSTAR Electric are also eligible for mail-in rebates ranging from $300 to $650 for each ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioning and air source heat pump system, available through the Massachusetts Cool Smart Program. The program offers special incentives for technicians who are certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE). Valid for installations made January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005. Restrictions apply. For more information, visit www.macoolsmart.com or call toll-free 800-473-1105.
NSTAR transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including over one million electric customers in 81 communities and nearly 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.
