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Scott Hamilton – Energy Saving Tips

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Energy Efficiency Arkansas provides tips to give your AC unit and pocketbook a break during Air Conditioning Appreciation Week

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (August 17, 2011) – This summer’s record-breaking high temperatures have given AC units quite the workout. To ease the strain on home units and lower energy consumption, Energy Efficiency Arkansas (EEA) – a partnership among the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Energy Office and Arkansas’s investor-owned electric and gas utilities and electric cooperatives – is providing homeowners several cost-effective recommendations as a part of Air Conditioning Appreciation Week (August 15-19).

“Regulating the temperature in each room is essential to easing the stress on your cooling unit, and ultimately your pocket book,” says Scott Hamilton, director of the Arkansas Energy Office. “Reflecting and blocking sunlight, cutting back on the usage of heat-generating sources and removing built-up heat in the home can lead to big savings.

The EEA Partnership has complied hundreds of recommendations, ranging from no-cost reminders to long-term investments, on its website – EnergyEfficiencyArkansas.org. Tips to reduce the energy usage of home AC units include:

  • Remembering to turn off the lights and ceiling fans when not in a room, and when possible, close off rooms not in use. Light fixtures not only use energy, they generate heat and therefore add to cooling costs.
  • Installing a programmable thermostat if one is not already in place. This simple, inexpensive investment can save up to $115 annually. The recommended minimum thermostat setting in the summertime is 78 F. When away, set the thermostat 5 to 10 degrees higher.
  • Shutting the shades and drapes on the sunny side of the home to keep out the sun’s heat. For the most benefit, drapes should be made of a tightly woven, light-colored, opaque fabric.
  • Sealing around windows, doors, electrical outlets and openings or holes in exterior walls.
  • Reducing heat and moisture that result from indoor cooking. Keep the lids on pans, especially when simmering or boiling food for a long time. Use smaller appliances such as a toaster oven or microwave, or cook outdoors whenever possible.
  • Utilizing the bathroom vent when showering. Humidity produced by the shower can make cooling the house more difficult, so use the vent to reduce excess steam.
  • Positioning furniture in ways that maximize energy consumption. Be sure that a couch or recliner does not block airflow into the room.

“Our partnering energy companies also offer great financial incentives to help you realize the benefits of energy efficiency. Visit the EEA website or contact your utility provider to learn more,” says Hamilton.

Partnering organizations include Entergy, American Electric Power, CenterPoint Energy, Arkansas Public Service Commission, Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation, Arkansas Energy Office, Empire, Oklahoma Gas and Electric, Arkansas Western Gas Company and Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

EnergyEfficiencyArkansas.org includes additional features to help homeowners understand their home’s energy consumption, including an interactive, room-by-room guide and an instructional how-to guide for do-it-yourself projects. The organization has also launched a Facebook Fan Page and Twitter handle that provide daily tips, interesting/fun facts and helpful links.

Consumers can also call 1-888-524-4567 for additional information.