Summer Cooling - Long Term Energy Savings Actions
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Whole House
- Have a full home energy audit.
- In the Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis areas, contact the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program for an audit to begin a comprehensive whole-house approach to home energy efficiency.
Insultation and Sealing Air Leaks
- Add insulation in attic (Consult a licensed electrician if wiring does not meet current standards).
- Upgrade insulation levels to an R-38 in the attic, R-19 in the walls, and R-19 in the floor (if located over a crawl space or unconditioned space).
- Have cellulose blown into walls that are not insulated (Consult a licensed electrician if wiring does not meet current standards).
Cooling and Ventilation
- Install high efficiency air conditioner or heat pump. Look for ENERGY STAR qualified cooling equipment.
- Install more cold air returns if house needs increased air circulation to increase cooling system efficiency.
Windows
Appliances and Electronics
- Replace old appliances with ENERGY STAR qualified appliances.
Roofing
- During building design and when your existing roof needs replacement, consider using ENERGY STAR qualified roof products. Reflective roofing materials can help reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings, and reduce peak cooling demand by 10–15 percent.
