LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

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Cooling and Heating

LCEC recommends installing a smart thermostat that will automatically raise and lower the temperature at certain times of the day. Programmable or smart thermostats can help you save you up to $100 every year in energy costs. Results may vary depending on lifestyle and changes made in the home*. LCEC recommends setting the thermostat at 83 degrees if you are away from your home more than two hours and at 78 degrees while you are home. Each degree below the recommended temperature of 78 degrees adds eight percent to cooling costs. Source: Energy Star

Cooling

Southwest Florida’s steamy subtropical summers cause the nation’s highest average annual air conditioning use. In fact, air conditioning accounts for approximately half of most average monthly utility bills. Efficient, functional air conditioning equipment and effective air conditioner management are absolute necessities for the cost-conscious household.

Cooling Chart

Residential air conditioning systems in Southwest Florida have a life expectancy of about 15 years. As your air conditioning system approaches its 15th birthday, you should be less willing to spend large amounts on maintenance and repair and more willing to investigate replacement with new, more efficient equipment. It is usually in the best interests of the homeowner to continue to operate the existing air conditioning system unless faced with significant repair costs. LCEC offers a free Energy Consultation of your home to help you evaluate your needs and determine the most cost-effective course of action.

What is SEER?

The size of the air conditioner is referred to as its tonnage. The efficiency of most air conditioning systems is expressed as a SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). Like the MPG rating of an automobile, the SEER rating of an air conditioner indicates the operating cost of the unit. The higher the SEER rating is, the lower operating costs will be. Although modern air conditioning equipment is available at SEER ratings of 15 or higher, the consumer should carefully evaluate their historic cooling cost before purchasing the ultra-high SEER equipment.

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What is SEER

Heating

Heating is the most intense use of electric energy in the average home and is the most expensive electric appliance. Since heating can cost two to three times more than cooling, save by using heating blankets or small portable space heaters to heat only the rooms that you are occupying. LCEC recommends setting the thermostat between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit when heating the home.

Heat pumps are more expensive than straight-cool air conditioners with electric resistance heat (electric heat strips). According to local air conditioning contractors, the price varies depending on the size and unit efficiency. Many families in Southwest Florida use their heat too sparingly to justify the cost of a heat pump. Occasionally, medical conditions require that very constant indoor temperatures be maintained. In these cases, a heat pump would be a wise investment. As a rule of thumb, a heat pump should be purchased if power usage of at least three winter heating months is equal to or greater than power usage in the three highest summer months.

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Heating

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