Tuesday, May 17, 1977
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Nine
Tuesday. May 17, 1977 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page NIne
Nancy Dickerson,"prominent national
correspondent, reports for Detroit Edison:
Here are some energ ~sa
tips to help take thelieatoW
your air-conditioning budget
this summer.
The right BTU and high EER
spell comfort and savings.
Whichever you choose, a portable
room air conditioner or central air
conditioning to cool the whole house, the
right size unit (BTUs) and a high
Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) will give
you the best return for your air-
conditioning dollar.
The right size (or capacity) is
important because an air conditioner
that's too small will work overtime and
still not return the comfort you want.
If the unit is larger than you need, it will
cool too quickly, cycle too frequently,
and not remove enough excess moisture
from the air. You'll feel uncomfortable
and clammy and you'll be wasting
money on energy costs.
Some air conditioners use more
electricity than others to do the same job.
So look for a unit with a high EER
number. The higher the number, the
more efficient it is.
Here's how to size up
an air conditioner.
To find out the size of the air conditioner
you need, measure the length and width
of the room you want to cool. If you're
considering a central air conditioner,
measure each room in the house.
Now find the zone on the chart
where the lines for room length and
width meet. The figure in that zone is the
BTU output, an indication of the air-
conditioning capacity required to cool
your room. For a central air conditioner,
add the BTU requirements together
for all rooms.
A little simple division makes
you an efficiency expert.
0 MODEL NUMBER 0
ACR2OB 74F
VOLTS CYCLE PH A5E
115 60 1
COOLING BTu/fR AMPS WATTS
06400 75 800
BTUs WATTS
To figure out the EER number of any
air conditioner yourself, divide the BTU
number by the number of watts needed
by the unit. You'll find both numbers
on the metal plate attached to the
air conditioner.
For example, a unit that delivers
6400 BTUs with 800 watts has an EER
rating of 8. (800 goes into 6400 8 times.)
The recommended EER number for
any air conditioner is 8 or more. You
may pay a little more, but you'll save
energy costs in the long run.
Keeping your air conditioner
cool keeps you cool.
When you bring your portable room
air conditioner home, install it on the
shady side of the house. If you must
place it on the sunny side, you'll keep
your operating costs lower if you plant
shrubs or trees near it for shade during
the hottest part of the day. Carefully seal
all around your unit and close cracks
around windows and doors. If central
air conditioning is installed in an
existing furnace, it's important to seal
all cracks in the air ducts.
It pays to insulate.
Good home insulation will keep you
more comfortable in summer and cut
down on your air-conditioning costs. It
will also make a big reduction in your
heating bill in winter. It's one of the best
home improvements you can make and
will pay for itself in a few years' time.
Spring and summer are good times to
have the job done when contractors are
less busy. Detroit Edison can help you
with the financing and give you tle
names of professional contractors. Just
call 'or stop in at your Detroit Edison
customer office and ask about Detroit
Edison's Home Insulation Finance Plan.
Tips to help you maintain
your cool.
You'll conserve energy and save on
operating costs if you keep your air
conditioner in good working order. So
before each cooling season, have a
licensed service contractor check your
unit over. During the summer, replace or
wash filters often and keep outside coils
free of debris, and keep cooling drain
open for free condensate flow..Clean
registers and return ducts regularly on
central air-conditioning systems and
avoid blocking cool air outlets. Set your
thermostat no lower than about
10 degrees below the outside
temperature for the most comfort and
best efficiency.
Detroit Edison is a concerned
participant in America's crusade for
conservation. The wise use of energy
plays one of the most important roles
in that effort. But it requires a
working partnership between those
who supply energy and those who use
it. Selecting energy-efficient
appliances is one of the ways
you can help. You'll also
save on your electric, bill.
Conserve for all it's worth.
The power is in your-hands.
46
44
42
40'
36
36
34
32
303
L 2
26
2,
22
20
18
16
14
12
4
is
11,000-150(
8,500-
11,000 BTU
6,500 -
0 0 TU
BTT -
15,00024,005 BtU
)00-19,000 B
o sao
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7A
AA silt A. nn 9a ,A
8 10 12 14 16 16 20 22 24 26 26 50 03
Room Width in feet