Tag Archives: save energy

Should I Run My Air Conditioning All Summer Long?

Lots of homeowners worry about running their air conditioner too long. They want to save energy, or they don’t want to cool rooms that don’t need it. So they only turn on the A/C when it’s really warm out.

That seems like common sense, but there are actually different schools of thought on this issue. In fact, some people worry about running the A/C too little. Why’s that?

For one, when your house is very warm, it takes a lot of energy for your air conditioner to cool it down. The surfaces of your home all store heat—from your roof, to your walls, to your windows. And the greater the temperature differential between indoors and outdoors, the longer the air conditioner has to run to reach the target temperature. So it’s reasonable to think that if you leave the A/C running at a consistent temperature, your system won’t have to work as hard to keep you cool.

That may be true in the short term, but it can create unexpected consequences in the long term.

One big issue is “short cycling.” If your home is always close to your target temperature, your A/C only needs to run for a few minutes to cool it to the proper level. That shorter cycle may be long enough to reach your target temperature, but it’s often not long enough to dehumidify the air. Too much humidity can make your home feel warmer than it actually is, so you may end up running to the thermostat to turn it down even lower.

Also, short cycling isn’t the most efficient way to run your air conditioner. Think of the impact on your gas milage when you drive your car in stop-and-go traffic versus cruising along on the highway. For maximum efficiency, you want your A/C to cruise, not crawl. It can also be noisy. Many homeowners find it irritating it is to hear their system constantly turning on and off.

So, should you run your A/C at the same temperature, all summer long?

We recommend the “cruise control” option. Run your A/C when you need it, and let your programmable thermostat handle it when you don’t. Ultimately, you will save energy—and money—by running your system fewer hours per year.

Image credit: Jeremy Levine/Flickr. CC license.

Could Your Apartment Be Energy Star Rated This Year?

Image credit: NCinDC/Flickr. CC license.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expanded its very popular ENERGY STAR Buildings program to include existing multi-family homes. That means that your apartment building’s energy efficeincy could soon be rated on a 1-100 scale.

A score of 50 represents median energy performance, while a score of 75 indicates high efficiency. And over that threshold, your home may also be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. Scores won’t be available until Fall 2014, but the new ranking system is already generating some buzz. So how would your home stack up?

If you’ve got a efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system like ecovent, you’re already on track. “High-efficiency systems that are engineered and installed to deliver more comfort, better moisture control, improved indoor air quality, and quieter operation” are one of the four key criteria required to reach ENERGY STAR certification. With ecovent, not only do you have room-level control over your comfort, but you’re also in good shape for ensuring better, more efficient HVAC operations.

Beyond HVAC, you can earn credit by improving insulation and air sealing, protecting your home from water damage, and outfitting it with ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. You can read about the verification process here.

For now, keep in mind that the new 1-100 grades will only apply to large multifamily facilities, like big apartment buildings. Single-family homes qualify for a different program, ENERGY STAR Certified Homes. Confusing? Check out ENERGY STAR’s handy flowchart below to see if your building might soon be ranked on a 1-100 scale.

Whether you’re in a single-family home or a large multifamily building, ecovent can help you to achieve energy efficiency in comfort and style.

Meet Our Advisors: Ross Trethewey, Home HVAC Expert

Heating and cooling a home is harder than it looks, but some people make it seem easy. Ross Trethewey is one of those people. You may know him from his appearances on This Old House. We know him because he’s a member of our Board of Advisors.

We met Ross through techstars. He’s grown up in family of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) pros. His father is Richard Trethewey, who has been This Old House‘s resident HVAC and plumbing expert since the show’s debut in 1979. The family’s plumbing and heating business, Trethewey Bros. Inc. has served the Boston community since 1902, so it’s clear that the Tretheweys know home heating and cooling better than almost anyone.

Ross is continuing the family tradition with TE2 Engineering, a full service engineering design and consultation firm. Their projects are some of the most innovative and elegant you’ll find. Just check out this house in Chillmark or Ross’s Twitter feed if you want to be jealous of the amazing work he gets to do each day, making homes more comfortable.

When we met Ross, he immediately saw the value of ecovent, and he’s been advising us ever since. His customers are increasingly interested in adding sensors and wireless technology to their homes. That’s our passion and our mission. Ross is helping us achieve it, and we’re glad to have him on our board.

If you’re an HVAC expert like Ross, connect with us by signing up for our mailing list, or drop us a line at [email protected].