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Global warming is a major concern today.\u00a0 But what can you do?\u00a0 Buying some compact fluorescent light bulbs doesn\u2019t seem like much and buying a hybrid automobile is pretty expensive.\u00a0 There are things you can do that are affordable, save money, and reduce your impact on the environment.\u00a0 Environmental responsibility does not always mean sacrifice.\u00a0 Sometimes, it simply means making smart decisions.<\/p>\n
Your carbon footprint is a measure of the carbon dioxide emissions from your activities.\u00a0 It\u2019s a measure of your impact on the planet.\u00a0 To reduce their carbon footprint, some people pay huge premiums for hybrid cars.\u00a0 But is this the best way to reduce your impact on the environment?<\/p>\n
Some experts think that upgrading your home\u2019s comfort system can have an even bigger impact than driving a hybrid automobile.\u00a0 If you wonder how, the answer lies, perversely, with your car\u2019s air conditioner.<\/p>\n
Jim Francfort has spent five years testing hybrid cars with the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Idaho National Laboratory.\u00a0 He found that, \u201cThe hybrids we tested got 15 to 27 percent lower fuel economy with the air conditioning on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Francfort\u2019s findings are consistent with consumer complaints that hybrids have failed to achieve expected mileage gains.\u00a0 The cars still save fuel and reduce the driver\u2019s carbon footprint, but not as much as expected.<\/p>\n
Conversely, when you upgrade the efficiency of your home\u2019s air conditioning system, you can have your cooling and carbon footprint reduction at the same time.<\/p>\n
Most North American electricity generation comes from burning fossil fuels at power plants.\u00a0 This is not pollution free.\u00a0 The emissions occur at the various power plant connected to the continental electricity grid.<\/p>\n
When you reduce your electricity usage, you reduce power plant emissions, cutting your carbon footprint and simultaneously cutting your out-of-pocket utility costs.\u00a0 Who wouldn\u2019t like to pay the utility less?<\/p>\n
Air conditioning efficiency has improved dramatically.\u00a0 The base efficiency of a residential air conditioning system is 30% higher today than just a couple of years ago.<\/p>\n
Air conditioning efficiency is expressed in SEER, or the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.\u00a0 Think of SEER like miles per gallon for your car.\u00a0 The higher the SEER, the less you spend to cool your home.<\/p>\n
The base efficiency today is 13 SEER.\u00a0 Depending on the age and condition of your air conditioner, your system might be operating at 6 SEER or less.\u00a0 Upgrading to a 13 SEER system could cut your cooling costs in half.<\/p>\n
Remember, 13 SEER is the base efficiency.\u00a0 Higher efficiency models are available.<\/p>\n
Sooner or later you will need to replace your air condition.\u00a0 You may want to wait if your system is less than ten years old, in good condition, and you have it tuned up every year.<\/p>\n
If your system is older than ten years, is breaking down every few years, hasn\u2019t been maintained, your summer cooling bills are high, or you experience comfort problems (e.g., some rooms are too hot or cold while others are comfortable), you should consider upgrading to a more comfortable, more efficient, and less expensive system with a smaller carbon footprint.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Global warming is a major concern today.\u00a0 But what can you do?\u00a0 Buying some compact fluorescent light bulbs doesn\u2019t seem like much and buying a hybrid automobile is pretty expensive.\u00a0 There are things you can do that are affordable, save money, and reduce your impact on the environment.\u00a0 Environmental responsibility does not always mean sacrifice.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-electrical-tips"],"yoast_head":"\n