CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 07/08/96

Heat Is On to Lower Energy Bills

The heat is on. And if your air-conditioner is off, or just not running efficiently, you or your wallet are suffering.

Dale Dorman, a housing specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, says good maintenance in hot weather can save you both discomfort and money.

"Cooling experts recommend having your system inspected and served by a qualified contractor," Dorman says. "The best person to call is the one who installed it or the manufacturer's local representative listed in the Yellow Pages."

Dorman suggests these tips to keep your system running its best:

* Shade your room air-conditioner from direct sun. This will reduce its workload.

* Clean the filters every month and replace them as necessary. This will save energy and reduce dust and pollen in the air.

* Don't leave your room air-conditioner turned to the coolest setting when you go out. Set the controls to a warmer setting to reduce operating costs.

* Because dust can foil efficiency, vacuum air vents regularly. And don't block them with furniture, carpet or curtains.

* Leaky ducts are prime sources of energy waste. Hire a professional to seal and insulate ducts.

* If your home has crawl space under it, open the foundation vents in the spring to promote air flow. Close them in the winter.

* Prune shrubs that may block air flow to your air- conditioner.

* Think about installing ceiling fans. The air circulation spreads cooling in the summer and boosts heating efficiency in the winter.

When you buy a new air-conditioning system, "you can save a little or a lot," Dorman says. "Select the most energy-efficient equipment that meets your needs and fits your budget."

The more efficient a product, the less it costs to run. It reduces air pollution, too, and helps conserve natural resources.

So what makes one system more efficient than another?

"Most of the differences are on the inside in the motors, compressors, pumps, valves, gaskets and seals," Dorman says. "Or in electronic sensors that make today's products more 'intelligent.'"

Manufacturers use standard U.S. Department of Energy tests to prove their products' efficiency. The EnergyGuide materials from the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection report the test results.

Before you buy, use an energy audit to help pinpoint your needs, Dorman says. Audits help detect energy waste and gauge your current system's efficiency. Do-it-yourself kits are available.

Find out about special offers. Ask your local utility or salesperson about cash rebates, low interest loans or other incentives for buying energy-efficient products. You may qualify.

If you're buying a home, ask your lender if an Energy- Efficient Mortgage is available. EEMs allow home buyers to qualify for a larger mortgage. Lenders use the lower monthly bills you'd pay in an energy-efficient house to offset a higher mortgage payment.

Experts/Sources:
Dale Dorman
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time to spend more of the holiday with guests, taking time ahead of the day to set expectations can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. CAES News
Manage holiday stress with kindness, boundaries 11/21/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Much like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time allows you to spend more of the holiday with guests, setting expectations ahead of the celebration can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science.
Conner Hall CAES News
CAES welcomes 2024 cohort of Rural Scholars 11/20/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences welcomed its fourth cohort of students chosen for the CAES Rural Scholars Program this fall just weeks after celebrating the program's first graduation. Georgia Orman, one of four inaugural Rural Scholars in CAES, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. The new scholars for 2024, all from Georgia, are Ela Ash of Ocilla, Lauren E. Coley of Cochran, Amelia Housley of Canon, and London O’Steen of Ambrose.
Women play a vital role in rural American farming, but much of that work is "invisible," like raising children or household chores, according to a new UGA study. (Getty Images) CAES News
The women and stress behind rural farming in America 11/19/24 Leigh Hataway
Recent research from the University of Georgia suggests the unique stresses from farm life may be taking a toll on one of the pillars of the families that make your dinners possible: the women who keep farming families running. “If we don’t control our food sources, we don’t control our health and safety,” said Anna Scheyett, lead author of the study and a professor in UGA’s School of Social Work. “It’s a matter of national security that farmers survive in the United States. And one of the big factors in helping farms survive is women.”
Mergoum at Creature Comforts CAES News
That's the spirit! 11/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras, Claire Sanders Kinnard
Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Professional brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile.
Contest-winning concept becomes viable business for alumnus who developed solar-powered, self-propelled chicken coop as a student. CAES News
Poultry in motion 11/14/24 Sean Montgomery
Chris Ayers emerged from his orange and black rough-terrain vehicle with an ear-to-ear grin. “This is Chiktopia,” he said, sweeping his arm wide to indicate the back half of a 3,600-square-foot warehouse on his family’s farm in Ball Ground, Georgia. “This is where I manufacture and assemble the chicken coops. Everything is done entirely from over here.”
UGA Grand Farm Site Plan web CAES News
UGA Grand Farm wins stage two of 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund competition 11/13/24 Jordan Powers
Startups in the agricultural technology sector face significant barriers on the path to establishment, including access to training and capital. These barriers are heightened for underrepresented entrepreneurs seeking to start new companies. The University of Georgia Grand Farm, part of a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm, aims to change that.