Category: Energy Savings

The 2012 Residential Energy Consumption Survey data from the Energy Information Administration has shown a 10% decline in household energy consumption dedicated to heating and air conditioning. This decrease is attributed partly to more efficient systems growing in popularity, and partly household practices like maintenance and AC repair. This consumption rate is expected to continue to decrease as more people are taking conscientious steps toward a more energy-efficient future. You can easily calculate just how much your home’s air conditioning unit is costing you in monthly utility bills by following the steps outlined below. SEER Rating Your air conditioning unit has a set SEER rating. You can ask your heating and AC repair technician for more information about the SEER rating, but in summary, it’s a measure of its efficiency in terms of energy consumed versus the cooling effect produced. The higher the rating, the more efficient it is in energy consumption. Older models will have a rating of 6 or lower. Heat Capacity Heat capacity is measured in British Thermal Units-hour or BTU-h. This is a measure of how much heat the unit can process. Higher capacity units tend to have higher rates of consumption but can cool much larger spaces. You can

Winter is just around the corner, which means that it’s time to enjoy the holiday season. There’s nothing better than spending time with family and friends while making new holiday memories. One thing that you probably won’t be thinking about is your energy consumption… that is until you get the energy bill at the end of the month. The holidays are the one time of the year when homeowners tend to use more energy than usual. Between hosting guests, cooking up a storm, and keeping the heat on, it’s no surprise that your December energy bill will be slightly higher than normal. The good news is that there are a few simple ways that you can work to save energy throughout the holiday season so that you aren’t too shocked by the bill at the end of the month. Best Ways to Save Energy During the Holidays Here are just 3 ways that West Los Angeles homeowners can work to save energy this holiday season: The more people you have in your home, the warmer it is likely to get. This means that if you are having a holiday party or plan on hosting guests, you can turn down the thermostat and

With summer comes a blast of fun new things to do, but also the scorching heat that watches your energy costs rise. While you’re taking refuge from the blazing sun or trying to cool down after all those fun outdoor activities, check out these 6 energy saving hacks for summer that’ll have you conserving like a pro. Super-Stock That Freezer When you open that door, you’re letting out hours of built-up cold in seconds, which makes the machine work harder to return the temperatures to normal. However, if you keep your freezer well-stocked, those items will hold the cold and make it work less. If you lack food or drinks, simple put water bottles or even newspaper in there. Get a Clothes Line – or Rack Dryers take an incredible amount of power, and even the best-made ones still pump heat into the room – making your AC work harder. To keep them from racking up your electricity bills in the summer, get a clothes line for your yard or (in the case of apartments) invest in a cheap clothing rack to let your items air dry. Plus, this energy saving hack leaves your clothes with a nice sunbathed smell!