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Cut the Cost of Keeping Cool

LSU AgCenter NEWS

Understanding how heat gets in your house is the key to choosing the best ways to stay cool and cut utility bills at the same time, according to LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel.

"You probably think of an air conditioner as something that puts cool air in your home," the specialist says, "but what it really does is remove heat from your home."

The sources of heat gain in typical newer houses - from largest to smallest - are inside sources, such as appliances, lighting and people, solar heat through windows, the attic and ductwork, infiltration of outside air and, finally, walls.

"Surprised?" Reichel asks, explaining, "Many people expect just the opposite." In general, the first three offer areas of greatest opportunity to save money and stay cooler.

The specialist recommends six investment strategies you can make to reduce your summer utility bills while staying cool and comfortable. She ranks them based on typical potential benefits balanced with costs, but they can vary from house to house.

The first strategy is window shading. Sun control is usually a much better investment than storm windows. An exterior shading strategy should be used for any glass that receives direct sunshine, or even reflected radiant heat from pavement. Reflective interior window treatments help, but they are not nearly as effective as exterior or glass solar control.

Solar screens are an inexpensive treatment that can block up to 70 percent of the solar heat while preserving the view. Solar films provide a wide range of properties to fit your needs. Spectrally selective films allow more visible daylight through while blocking solar heat. Look for a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) around .4, but no higher than .6, and a visible light transmittance (VT) of .5 or brighter. The lower the SHGC, the better, while the higher the VT, the better.

Landscaping is a great way to shade both glass and walls as well as add value to the home. Awnings are another good option with aesthetic benefits, but more costly.

The second investment strategy is to make exterior surfaces light colored. When repainting, residing or reroofing your home, choose white or light colors. It may not make a huge difference, but color choice is a no-cost way to reflect some heat. Among roofing options, a white metal roof provides the greatest benefit. Light-colored shingles can provide a much smaller benefit.

The third investment strategy is choosing energy efficient appliances and lighting. In general, each three kilowatt hours of energy saved in the home can reduce the need for cooling by an additional kwh. So you're saving energy and money two ways.

Leaving lights, computers, TVs and even ceiling fans on adds heat needlessly. Ceiling fans are considered an energy saver by keeping you cooler at higher thermostat settings, but they end up being a net energy loser if you leave them on continuously in unoccupied rooms. Turning everything off when not needed is free. If that's a difficult habit to develop, install and use timers or motion sensors.

When replacing appliances, look for the EnergyStar label, a verification of high energy-efficiency. Also, compare the big yellow EnergyGuide labels to reveal the hidden cost (operating cost) of different models. Investing in higher efficiency will pay off. Refrigerators and freezers are especially important since they run (and give off heat inside your home) continuously.

Replace your high-use incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps. CFLs have a higher price tag, but use about one-third the electricity, produce one-third the heat and last about 10 times longer - so you save money during the life of the lamp, while staying cooler. The newer electronic types do not flicker or hum, and they produce a warm light.

The fourth investment strategy is making attic improvements. If space permits, increase attic insulation to R-38. In coastal south Louisiana, and where you can't fit in R-38, you can use R-19 attic insulation with either a truss-mounted radiant barrier system or a light-colored metal or tile roof. Ridge and soffit vents provide better attic ventilation.

The fifth cooling strategy is sealing the duct system. If your home is typical, your ductwork may be losing 30 percent to 40 percent of the cooling you pay for. That's because most ducts are quite leaky, and the ductwork is located in the hottest part of the house. The entire duct system should be sealed with mastic and mesh (not duct tape), tested by a trained professional with specialized equipment and insulated (if in an unconditioned attic) with R-8 or higher.

The sixth strategy is choosing an energy efficient air conditioner when your old unit dies. Look for

a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of at least 12 for a central unit or SEER 10 for a window unit.

Make sure the air conditioner has a moisture-removing capacity (latent capacity) of at least 25 percent, or choose a variable speed unit that will provide good humidity control in mild seasons. This is especially important if choosing a SEER 14 or higher.

Insist that the unit is not oversized. "More is not better," Reichel emphasizes, noting "An oversized A/C will cool, but not dehumidify adequately, will cost more to operate and will not last as long."

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