Energy Savings

Correct sizing of the air conditioning system is critical for both comfort and efficiency. A system that is oversized will sacrifice both comfort and efficiency. The same can be said for an undersized unit.

Before purchasing an air conditioning system, make sure a licensed technician performs a load calculation on your home to ensure proper sizing. Reliant Energy recommends a minimum of 14.00 seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER).

There are several ways to help cool a home’s upstairs. Most of these solutions involve hiring a registered heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician to diagnose the problem.

• The air distribution system must be sealed, sized and insulated properly. These factors working together have a big effect on your comfort level upstairs. If the ductwork to certain rooms upstairs is not large enough, then not enough air may be available to meet the heat load of the room. A room-by-room load calculation can help determine the exact number of BTUs (cooling units) needed per room.

• An undersized air conditioning system will continuously run without properly cooling your home.

• Have your ductwork checked. Ducts on your supply system may be disconnected, crushed or crimped, which would prevent air from being distributed effectively throughout the upstairs.

• The return air system may be grossly undersized.

• If your home is more than 20 years old, you may need more attic insulation.

• Add window coverings to help block the sun. Curtains, blinds and solar screens can go a long way toward reducing the solar heat entering your home.

Lowering your energy usage is directly related to lowering the setting on your air conditioner’s thermostat. We recommend a thermostat setting of 78° F. For every degree below 78° F, your cooling costs may increase up to 5-7%. When you leave for work, raise your thermostat to around 81 to 82° F. Also, make sure that you replace your air conditioning filters on a monthly basis. Closing your curtains and/or blinds during the day can also prevent solar heat gain from warming up your home.

Yes. You will see energy savings by installing a programmable thermostat in your apartment. Set and program the thermostat to fit both your lifestyle and work schedule. Before purchasing a programmable thermostat, check with your apartment manager to see if they allow tenants to install them. Also find out the type of heat your units use — electric strip heating, heat pumps or hydronic. This information is necessary to find the right programmable thermostat.

To ensure the removal of moisture/humidity from your home, we recommend setting your thermostat to 82° F. It is best never to turn your air conditioner off when experiencing humid weather.

The motor blower fan that operates your air conditioning and heating system can cost anywhere from $30 to $75 per month when operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We recommend not placing the fan in the ‘on’ position because it will result in increased energy usage and minimal comfort gain. It is best to open a window and turn on a ceiling fan when weather permits. In addition, the temperature in your attic may be higher because of radiant heat gain. And, your ductwork could be acting as a heat exchanger, transferring heat into your home.

Reliant Energy does not recommend one type of insulation material over another. Here is some information about the different insulation materials:

Cellulose insulation
Cellulose is essentially newspaper and cardboard that has been shredded. It is organic and porous, which means it does a great job of trapping air. Its insulation properties seem to last longer than other products, because it doesn’t settle as quickly. It’s also treated with Boric acid, which provides a level of fire retardation and helps repel insects and bugs.

Batt or blown insulation
Loose insulation is good as long as it is applied evenly throughout your attic. Blown insulation reaches cracks and crevices that batt insulation may miss.

From ceiling fans to box fans, all fans are made for people — not rooms. Fans do not lower a room’s temperature, they just make people feel cooler because they cause a wind-chill effect. Even though fans cost only a penny per hour to operate, it’s best to turn them off when you leave the room or house.

Most ceiling fans are reversible. If you have a switch on the bottom of your fan, that means your fan is reversible. In the winter, it is best to direct the air flow upward — in a counter-clockwise rotation. This can be accomplished by placing the fan’s switch in the top position. The reason for this direction is that for comfort, it is best to prevent the hotter air from collecting at the top of the ceiling. The fan will draw cold air from the bottom of the room and force it upward, mixing with the hotter air. The air will then be pushed down the sides of the room into the living zone, making the room feel warmer.

In the summer, the switch should be in the down position — in a clockwise rotation. This will push the air downward, causing a wind-chill effect.

In the winter months, it’s best to set your thermostat to 70° F or lower. Each degree above 70° F can increase your heating costs by as much as 3-5% per degree.

Electric furnaces are expensive to operate compared to other heating choices and have a life expectancy of anywhere from 10 to 30 years. A thermostat controls the electric furnace and uses heat strips and an air handling system to supply heat to the home.

Our top recommendation for heating your home is with a natural gas furnace. If natural gas is available, we recommend a gas furnace with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of 80% or higher. Operating costs for a gas furnace are relatively low and are comparable to an electric heat pump. If the gas furnace is located in a room below the ceiling insulation, be sure to provide proper venting through a ducted opening to the outside.

Reliant Energy customers can visit the Energy Savings Center and take the Reliant Energy Checkup for energy-saving information tailored to your home.

To find ways to save tailored to your home energy use, use our online Reliant Energy Checkup Tool. You can also request a Home Energy Checkup, in which one of our energy experts will evaluate your home and provide customized solutions to help you lower your usage.

Lighting accounts for about 7% of your home’s total energy usage. It makes sense to ensure that you’re using the most energy-efficient lighting available. Learn more about energy-efficient lighting.

Radiant barriers do an excellent job of preventing radiant heat from entering your attic and may lower your attic’s ambient temperature up to 35 degrees. In addition, radiant barriers may enhance the comfort of your home, because they block out heat gain into air conditioned space. Your exact energy savings will vary greatly, depending on such factors as the efficiency of your air conditioning system, your current insulation levels and the efficiency of your air distribution system. Learn more about radiant barriers.

All new model freezers are energy efficient, thanks to legislation passed in the early 1990s. Manufacturers now must meet strict Federal guidelines to build energy-efficient freezers. See more energy-saving tips about freezers.

No. A study conducted in Houston by the National Bureau of Standards found that power vents are not a cost-effective investment. Although there was some savings in air conditioning costs, the savings was smaller than the energy required to keep the power vents operating. Ridge vents — teamed with continuous soffits — are the best way to ventilate an attic. The key to a ventilation system is air flow.

Yes. Reliant Energy strongly recommends passive ventilation systems and believes that ridge vents — coupled with continuous soffits — are the best way to ventilate an attic. The key to a good ventilation system is air flow.

Gas water heaters typically come in 40, 50, 75 and 100 gallons for residential applications. As you increase the volume of the gas water heater, you also increase the surface area—leading to increased energy usage. By upgrading to low-flow showerheads and faucets, you can sometimes use a lower gallon water heater. Learn more about water heaters.

Regarding energy ratings, be sure to compare the black and yellow Energy Guide labels for same-capacity water heaters. When looking for a contractor, make sure they are bonded, insured and have some level of training from the manufacturer.

These water heaters are not energy efficient and are only appropriate for small applications. Instantaneous water heaters are tankless units that heat the water only as needed at the end source. The water is heated by a high-power electric heating element as the water flows through the unit. Even though these water heaters are popular in Europe, they have not gained popularity in the United States.

No. You should not use an insulation jacket on a gas water heater unless the manufacturer specifies that it is safe to do so. Most of the time, insulation jackets are used on older, inefficient electric heaters. If the insulation jacket should slip or come off of the gas water heater, it could pose a fire hazard due to the pilot light. Be sure to read all manufacturer’s labels — your heater may already be insulated on the inside.

You will need to contact the permitting jurisdiction in the area in which you are building to find out if double-pane low-E windows are required. This would be either the county—if you are building in an unincorporated area—or the city if you are within the municipality. Double-pane low E windows may be required for builders participating in the EPA’s Energy Star program to certify their homes. In addition, this certification may supersede any local building codes. Even though they cost more than single-pane windows, double pane low-E windows will decrease your energy usage while enhancing the comfort of your home.

Yes. The addition of solar screens can reduce your energy usage and increase the comfort of your home. We recommend targeting the east- and west-facing windows of your home, because this is where most solar heat gain occurs.