Keep your cool with energy-efficient units

 

If your plans for dealing with the dog days of summer include an ancient, wheezing room conditioner or a pre-1994 central air conditioning (CAC) system, keep in mind that older room air conditioners often emit carbon dioxide, rust particles, and harmful refrigerants into the air you breathe, while aged CACs gobble energy and, hence, contribute to greenhouse gases.

If that's not enough to make you move up to a newer, more energy-efficient system, there are several rebate programs that provide monetary motivation.

Under the Keep Cool program, a partnership between the Clean Air Foundation and Toronto Hydro, homeowners can take old room conditioners into Home Depot stores in Toronto for a $25 gift card (up to a maximum of five). The program runs until June 15. (cleanairfoundation.org/keepcool).

The Cool Savings Rebate, run under the Ontario Power Authority's Every Kilowatt Counts program, offers homeowners a $250 rebate to replace a CAC with an energy-efficient alternative. Many private utility providers will also guide consumers about government rebate programs.

Before you buy, a quick lesson in efficiency ratings. There are two measurements: Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which determines how much cooling is provided for the amount of electrical energy used or SEER (seasonal energy efficient ratio), which measures how effectively the system operates over a season. Energy Star products must be at least 10 per cent more efficient than the federal minimum standard. For more information, go to www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca.

Dave Wilton, director of home ideas for Direct Energy's Essential Home Service, suggests that if your CAC system was installed before 1994, you'll achieve big savings by replacing it. "If the old unit has a SEER of 10, and the new one has one of 13, you can expect to save about 28 per cent in energy costs," he says.

Prices for a new CAC system start at about $2,400 installed, says Wilton, who advises that a licensed contractor determine the correct size unit. That will depend on such factors as age of the home, types of windows, orientation and landscaping. Once the unit is installed, annual maintenance checks will ensure it's running efficiently.

Bill Wiley, manager of programs for the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), under the umbrella of Every Kilowatt Counts (everykilowattcounts.com), says that homeowners who replace CAC systems should also consider increasing the overall energy efficiency of their HVAC systems by adding a programmable thermostat and a variable speed furnace motor, which are also eligible for rebates.

Wilton also suggests maximizing CAC efficiency by closing some of the heating duct dampers in the basement – often the coolest spot in the house – and by replacing the furnace filter every 90 days. If you do install central CAC, position the unit on a north wall and plant a shrub no less than 24 inches from the unit, which Wilton says can save up to 10 per cent on your energy bill.

Want to try and wean yourself away from the air conditioner? Make the home more comfortable by lowering moisture in the air with a dehumidifier, the efficiency of which is determined by an Efficiency Factor (EF), which measures how many litres of water is removed for each hour of electricity used.

Canadian Tire sells a Whirlpool Energy Star 35-pint dehumidifier that has an energy-saving automatic setting in which the condenser cycles on and off as the humidity reaches a pre-set level. Cost is about $200.

Another option is ceiling fans, which Wilton says cost about 15 cents a day to run, compared to the $8 to $12 it costs to run a CAC system 24/7. Lowe's has an extensive selection of Energy Star fans, including a 52-inch brass ceiling fan by Hunter with five reversible rosewood/oak blades for $148. For store locations, go to lowes.ca. Fan blades should rotate in a counter-clockwise direction in summer to push cool air downward.

Adding white blinds or drapes to south-facing windows will deflect heat away from the house. Ikea has a new line of polyester-cotton curtain panels called Anno Liuv. At $29.99 for a 60-centimetre panel, they're an affordable choice. They can be used with Ikea's Kvartal or regular rod system.

While air conditioners represent the biggest drain on the grid in summer, the OPA wants homeowners to reduce overall energy use during the peak demand period. Under the Summer Saving Sweepstakes program, consumers can go to their website everykilowattcounts.ca/residential/summersweepstakes and sign up to have their energy use monitored during July and August and compared to the same period last year. Those who reduce their use by 10 per cent can win some very cool energy-efficient products.

 

Vicky Sanderson's Hot Home Products appears Saturdays in New in Homes. Email her at vswriter@sympatico.ca