 Periodic
maintenance will keep your cooling system running efficiently.
Please call your local Black Hills Power office for system service
checks.- Select a central air conditioning unit with the lowest suitable
capacity and highest efficiency. Ask your dealer to help you determine
what you need.
- Make sure ducts in your air conditioning system are properly
sealed and insulated, especially those that pass through the attic
or other uncooled spaces.
- Planting trees or shrubs that provide shade for your air-conditioning
unit can increase efficiency by up to 10 percent.
- When it is below 78 degrees outside, use a ventilation fan in your
attic or in an upstairs window to cool your home instead of running
your central air conditioning.
- Clean or replace your air-conditioning filter each month during the cooling season.
- Do not place lamps or television sets near your thermostat.
Heat from appliances is sensed by the thermostat and could cause
the A/C to run longer than necessary.
- Turn off air conditioners when you leave the room for several
hours. You will use less energy cooling the room later than
if you leave it running.
- Use a fan with your window air conditioner. It will spread cooled
air without greatly increasing your power use.
 Summer
time is vacation time! When your house is vacant, your electric
bill should go way down, right? Well, not always. Many things continue
to run in your home whether you are there or not. Here are a few
tips to help lower electric usage while you are away:
- Turn off your electric water heater
- Raise the temperature of your refrigerator to 42-45 degrees
- Put security lights on a timer
- Turn off the air conditioning.
Following these simple tips will save you money on your electric
bill. And wouldn't you rather spend it on your vacation?
- Close blinds and draperies to keep out daytime sun.
- Electric lights generate heat, so keep lights low or off.
- Cook in the early morning or late evening whenever possible.
- Keep windows closed during the hottest hours of the day.
- Use vents and exhaust fans in the attic, kitchen, and laundry
room to pull heat and moisture directly to the outside
- If each household in the United States raised air conditioning
temperatures 6 degrees, we'd save the equivalent of 190,000 barrels
of oil every day.
- Setting your thermostat colder than normal when you turn on
the A/C will not cool your home faster. It will cool to a lower
temperature than you need and use more energy.
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