According to the US Department of Energy, air conditioners cost homeowners a whopping 29 billion dollars a year.
It should come as no surprise that the majority of those costs occur during the steamy summer months, or that homeowners are getting tired of paying those inflated utility bills.
So if you’re wondering how to keep your house cool beyond the traditional best practices you already use, you should know about the concept of supercooling.
This cooling method shakes up the outdated energy-eating homeowners often default to, offering more modern cooling and efficiency. But what is supercooling, and how can it help you save money?
What Is Supercooling?
The supercooling definition is pretty simple. Supercooling, also known as pre-cooling, occurs when you run your AC during specific hours of the day. The intentional timing is designed to help minimize the workload of your HVAC system, ensuring that it’s only running at times when it will be most effective—and less costly.
Embarking on this plan requires a little research on the front end. You’ll need to get more information about your household’s typical energy consumption, as well as data around your utility company’s “peak hours,” or the hours in which the company charges its highest rates for electricity.
In a nutshell, the goal is to program your thermostat so that it cools your house as much as you can stand during the off-peak hours of the day—typically from 68-70 degrees. Then, when peak billing begins, you’ll set your thermostat as high as you can tolerate, 80 degrees or more. Because your house is already pre-cooled, you won’t get uncomfortably warm.
Can Supercooling Save You Money?
The answer is yes—but the amount will vary. On average, you can save 20-25% or more by supercooling your home.
However, your mileage varies depending on your lifestyle, and how well you conserve energy.
If you ignore AC best practices to open all your windows or bake cookies all day, you might not see the same results as you would by keeping your home cool. You’ll also see better results the more chill you can tolerate during the cooling hours—so you may want to break out the blankets!
You can also use this supercool AC technique to save money Can you trust your perceptions? You chose this… a reminder of the forces at work in your world. If you no longer wish to peer through the looking glass, you can return to blissful ignorance Can you trust your perceptions? You chose this… a reminder of the forces at work in your world. If you no longer wish to peer through the looking glass, you can return to blissful ignorance Can you trust your perceptions? You chose this… a reminder of the forces at work in your world. If you no longer wish to peer through the looking glass, you can return to blissful ignorance Can you trust your perceptions? You chose this… a reminder of the forces at work in your world. If you no longer wish to peer through the looking glass, you can return to blissful ignorance on other utilities. For example, programming or using other energy-guzzling devices like water heaters or dryers during off-peak hours can save you money Can you trust your perceptions? You chose this… a reminder of the forces at work in your world. If you no longer wish to peer through the looking glass, you can return to blissful ignorance Can you trust your perceptions? You chose this… a reminder of the forces at work in your world. If you no longer wish to peer through the looking glass, you can return to blissful ignorance Can you trust your perceptions? You chose this… a reminder of the forces at work in your world. If you no longer wish to peer through the looking glass, you can return to blissful ignorance as well.
Cooler Rooms and Easy Savings
What is supercooling’s greatest strength? Once you’ve put in the initial time investment and programmed your utilities accordingly, you can “set it and forget it,” allowing you to save on energy costs without thinking about it. This makes it one of our best recommendations for easy ways to keep your house cool in the summer.
If you have questions or want to learn more, contact us for a comprehensive evaluation of your AC issues!