Message from EnergyStar.gov
Keep the Heat Out
Improve insulation between your attic and roof. Adding insulation in your attic can help you maintain the desired temperature throughout your home and make a real difference for your utility bills if your home experiences hot ceilings, walls or entire rooms; uneven temperatures between rooms; or high heating or cooling bills.
Replacing your windows? Consider ENERGY STAR®! With windows certified by ENERGY STAR®, you can stay cool all summer long. Most of those windows reduce the “heat gain” into your home more than typical windows do, without reducing the visible light. You’ll get the light you need without the uncomfortable heat.
To block the sun’s heat, close window shades and drapes in warm weather.
The right roof can do a lot to keep the heat out. Consider roof products certified by ENERGY STAR®.
Keep the Cool In
Properly size your room A/C for comfort and savings. An oversized unit will cool the room but only remove some of the humidity, leaving the room with a damp, clammy feeling. Learn how to choose the right size for your room A/C.
Seal and insulate the cooling-system ducts in your attic.
Find air leaks around your house and seal them with spray foam, caulk and weather-stripping. Sealing and insulating your home can save you up to $200 in annual utility bills.
Maintain Your Cooling System
Schedule a summer cooling-system tune-up to help keep your HVAC system at peak performance and prevent future problems.
Change your air filter every three months. A dirty filter slows down air flow and makes your system work harder to keep you comfortable.
Choose a new smart thermostat certified by ENERGY STAR® to get demonstrated energy savings and environmental benefits, reliable performance, convenience, insight and control.
If you have a manual or programmable thermostat, set the temperature up to save energy when you’re asleep or away from home. Follow the instructions and use the insulation materials included with your room A/C to minimize costly and uncomfortable air leaks. Room air conditioners certified by ENERGY STAR® come with clear instructions and high-quality insulation to create a better seal and improve comfort and savings.
Be a Fan of Fans
Ceiling fans certified by ENERGY STAR® move more air using less power. In the summer, run the ceiling fan in the counterclockwise direction. While standing directly under the ceiling fan, you should feel a cool breeze. The airflow produced creates a wind-chill effect, making you "feel" cooler. On hotter days, raising the thermostat by only two degrees and using a ceiling fan can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 14%.
Use a vent fan certified by ENERGY STAR® after a shower to reduce humidity.
Look for the ENERGY STAR®
Make the cool choice with a room air conditioner certified by ENERGY STAR®. You’ll get comfort, energy savings and improved sealing and insulation around the unit—and it’ll cost about $70 per year to run!
Room air conditioners certified by ENERGY STAR® with connected functionality offer additional convenience, comfort and energy savings, including the ability to:
- Turn off the unit remotely using your phone or computer.
- Change schedules and the temperature settings based on your needs.
- Receive feedback on the energy use of the product.
If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with a model that has earned the ENERGY STAR® could cut your cooling costs by 30%.
Replace those old, hot incandescent light bulbs with much cooler LED light bulbs certified by ENERGY STAR®. Those LED bulbs produce about 70%-90% less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
