Epa Shares 'cool' Ideas For A Hot Summer

With summer and the high costs of cooling right around the corner, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering advice to help Americans reduce both energy bills and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by one-third, Environmental Protection News reports recently. The energy used in an average home costs more than $2,200 a year and contributes more GHG emissions than a typical car. And in the office, energy-efficient computer room air conditioning systems help cut energy and systems maintenance costs for businesses in various industries.
A few simple changes can help create real reductions in high summer electric bills and provide a hefty cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the bargain, according to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Its important that we all do our part to confront climate change, especially when it can help save money during these challenging economic times."
Here are some tips for home and work:
Set your programmable thermostat to save while you are away or asleep. Using it properly can save up to $180 per year in energy costs. In server rooms which generate heat constantly, an effective server room cooling system is necessary in keeping temperatures and the overall environment controlled twenty four hours a day. Making sure the temperature settings on these cooling units are correctly calibrated could mean significant savings in energy costs.
Run ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect that will make you "feel" cooler. Remember that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms -- so turn them off when you leave the room.
Inspect your duct system for obvious signs of leaks and disconnections (most houses leak 20 percent or more). Seal any leaks with foil tape or a special sealant called "duct mastic." Also consider insulating ducts in unconditioned areas (like the attic, basement or crawlspace).
Office spaces and computer rooms are just as prone to air leaks as residential houses are. Floor mounted cooling systems regulate a rooms temperature by cooling it from the bottom up be sure to optimize the arrangement of your columns to achieve the most benefit from a computer room cooling system. At home, seal air leaks to keep the heat out and the cool air in. The biggest air leaks are usually found in the attic or basement but also come in around doors, windows, vents, pipes, and electrical outlets. Use caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping to seal the leaks. And add more insulation to keep your home cooler this summer.
Maintain your cooling system. Check your systems air filter every month at a minimum and change the filter every three months. Remove leaves, dirt, and other debris from around the outdoor components to improve air flow and efficiency. Have a qualified professional tune-up your system with a pre-season maintenance checkup and, if its time to replace your old system, look for energy-saving models that have earned EPAs approval for efficiency.
Turn off office lights and equipment when not in use so they dont generate unnecessary heat. Be sure, however, that ceiling mounted cooling systems in your server room remains on 24/7; computer room cooling systems do not operate like central air conditioning which shut off on weekends.
Replace incandescent light bulbs in your desk lamp with energy-conserving compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use two-thirds less energy and generate less heat than conventional bulbs.