by John McDevitt

Created on: June 30, 2007

If you've been sacrificing cooling comfort in an effort to keep your electric bill under control, and your air conditioner is 10 years old or more, you should consider a replacement. You'll be surprised at how efficient the new residential cooling systems are today, especially systems that carry the EPA Energy Star Label. A new system may cost a bit more up front, but you'll recoup that cost very quickly in energy savings.

According to the EPA, about 14% of all the electricity generated in the U.S. is used to cool buildings. Energy Star central air conditioners are typically 8% more efficient and Energy Star window units 10% more efficient than standard models. And because of technology advances, even the standard models are far more efficient that the systems of 10 years ago.

I've seen a dramatic reduction in my cooling season electric bills since I replaced my 16 year old central air system with a new, high efficiency system 3 years ago. And as a bonus, I received a $550 rebate check from my electric utility company's Residential Cool Advantage Rebate Program.

Don't make the mistake that many people make and assume that a larger system is better. It's not. If you install a system that's too big for your home, you'll spend more up front, waste energy because the system cycles too often and your home will feel clammy because a system that cycles too frequently can't properly control humidity. When your system is removing the humidity properly, you can often set the thermostat a bit higher and still feel comfortable.

It's easy to properly size your new system. Simply find a good contractor and have them run a complete load calculation (Manual J calculation) on your home. It shouldn't cost you anything because you'll need a good contractor for a professional installation in any case.

The same principle applies for window units only on a smaller scale. Cooling capacity of window units is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). Readily available charts based on room square footage that also factor in solar exposure can help you find just the right unit for any room.

Why suffer the summer heat when you can bring your energy bills under control and enjoy a cool, comfortable home with a new Energy Star qualified air conditioner? Replacing my aging system was one of the best investments I've made in years.

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