August 2023: You Might Not Need That Air Conditioner as Much as You Thought

Most people would say the dog days of summer would be nearly unbearable without air conditioning. There are weeks in July and August in New Hampshire when you will notice most air conditioners are cranking out cool relief non-stop. While it is important for people to stay safe and not over-heat, there can be negative environmental and economic impacts to sustained AC usage, and there are other ways to stay cool that you could consider. Days when the demand on the New England electricity grid is the highest are called “peak days.” To keep up with the large demand on hot days, the grid operator turns to “peaker plants” for additional power. These power plants use gas and oil, which makes them worse for air quality and more expensive to run. In urban areas with a lot of AC use, waste heat from the units can make the local environment even hotter. Reducing AC electricity consumption or shifting the time of day of use will ease the strain of both your regional power grid, the local environment and your wallet!

AC During Peak Times

What can we do to combat these negative effects of air conditioners? A key goal for reducing AC energy intake would be to limit use or to turn it off during peak periods. Ironically, these times are also the hottest and limiting your use can be a challenge. Check your local weather forecasts often to plan out a cooling schedule for the week, one that relies on pre-cooling your home early in the day. This allows your AC unit to be set back before late afternoon and early evening, when load on the grid is usually highest. Also, take advantage of the cooler summer days and nights by turning off the AC and enjoying the nice weather when we have it.
If your primary source of cooling is a window AC unit, consider installing an ENERGY STAR® minisplit heat pump. The efficiency of these units can be 2-3 times that of window AC units. They are also an efficient heating source that can supplement whole house heating systems on the coldest days and can carry a homes heat load on milder days. You may also qualify for federal, state or local utility incentives when installing these.

Ventilate Your Space and Use a Fan

An alternative to AC units would be to ventilate your home better. According to the Department of Energy, ventilation is the least expensive and most energy-efficient way to cool a home. There are a few different ways to properly ventilate your space: Natural ventilation, regular fans and whole house fans. Natural ventilation uses the wind to create a “chimney effect” to cool your home. This is obtained by opening multiple windows around your space to create a cooling crosswise breeze. Regular fans will create a wind chill effect by circulating air throughout a room (make sure you turn them off when you leave the room to save power!) Whole house fans can be effective at evacuating warm air from homes but are generally not recommended for homes in predominantly heating climates like New England. Use these options in place of a cooling unit or when taking a break from one.

An Extra Boost for Keeping Cool

Insulating all your walls and your attic is a great boost to keep your home cooled. Seal all cracks/secret air entrances to prevent cool air from slipping out of your walls as well. When cooking or showering, be sure to leave the ventilation fan on. Doing this helps to quickly dissolve the heat and humidity from that area. Also, consider investing in energy saving window shades that specialize in letting light in but keeping the solar heat out. Putting all of these tips into action will surely make a difference on the temperature in your house.

If You Must Use Your AC

In the dead of summer, there are certainly days where the heat is unavoidable no matter how hard you try. Sometimes the AC will feel like the only thing keeping you from overheating in your own home! Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks to minimizing the harm your cooling unit does without breaking the bank.

One of the quickest ways to reduce your AC energy usage is to clean your cooling unit regularly and to replace the filters. Also, switching to a high-efficiency air conditioner could save your energy use by 20-50%! You can also maximize the benefit by keeping all doors and windows closed. Utilizing reflective blinds on south-facing windows minimizes solar gain and reduces load on AC units. A high-functioning unit and a properly insulated house will make a huge difference in the length of time you need to run your air conditioning.

Another way to keep costs down is by simply turning up the thermostat on your AC unit. For example, instead of having it kick on when the temp reaches 70 degrees, let it turn on at 80 degrees. I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t that uncomfortably warm? Not if you also pair it with a fan! Turning on a fan will increase airflow across your skin and help keep you cool even with a less effective air conditioner. A smart hack for keeping a room cool with AC without having to run it all day is by pre-cooling a room! Simply set your AC on and leave it on just enough for your room to get cool. Turn it off and just use your fans for the rest of the day with the windows closed.

You can also limit your use of other large appliances while your AC is at work. Large appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, electric ovens and car chargers should be used in the morning or after sunset when the AC won’t be working as hard to keep your space cool.

Embracing a Cool and Conscious Lifestyle

Reducing air conditioning use will not only save you money, but it will also help save the environment around you. Embracing sustainable cooling alternatives will help you achieve a more energy efficient and eco-friendly household while still maintaining comfort during hot summer days.