Green Living Works!

Depending on where you live, using an air conditioning unit, especially during the summer, may seem like a necessity.  Sometimes, despite your best interests, a ceiling fan or open window just won’t cool down you home adequately.  Well, fortunately, there are ways to improve the performance of your air conditioning unit and reduce the energy needed to run your A/C.

Be sure to clean the filters for your air conditioning unit regularly.  Check the filters once a month, especially during the summer when your unit is being used heavily.  You should change your filters a minimum of every 3 months for optimal performance.  Dirty filters slow airflow, make your unit work harder, and waster energy.  A clean filter can cut your unit’s energy use by 5 to 15 percent.  Changing your filters regularly will reduce dust buildup and save money on maintenance.

You can also improve the performance of your air conditioning unit by shading it.  An air conditioning unit in the shade uses up to 10 percent less energy than one in the sun.  You can shade your unit by planting bushes or tress on the south side of the unit, but just don’t let them block the airflow