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Pag* 10 Spring Home Living Keep the lid on energy ByMarlcBaus With the winter weather thankfully behind us, and the anticipation of warm, summer weather with all of us, we often take for granted that weatherizing our homes or apartments is not something to be done only in the fall. For most of us, keeping cool during the hot summer months is a top priority, but we shouldn't go out and buy an air conditioner or fan without first studying what effect the unit will have on our energy bills. According to Ken Seaton, district manager for Commonwealth Edison in Crystal Lake, weatherizing dwellings, as well as purchasing the proper air conditioning unit, is important for the summer months. When shopping for an air con­ ditioner, it is important to look for and compare the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of the various units on the market. The EER will tell you the ratio between how much cool air the unit will produce compared to how much energy it takes to produce it. Seaton said a EER of eight or above is the optimum number to keep the house cool without itting all heated up over your electric And a unit with a higher EER ratio, will show immediate benefits. For instance, an average-sized, three-ton central air conditioning unit with a EER of eight will cost about $270 "The EER is kind of like the gas milage for your car. That tells you how much gas it takes for you to get a certain distance. The EER tells you how much electricity it takes your air conditioner to cool your room," Seaton explained. Almost every unit on the market should display the EER ratio, he added. per year to cool a 1,500 to 2,000 square-foot home. If the unit has an EER of six, the cost would be about $360. "Just those two points can have a big effect on your bill from year to year," Seaton said. An average-sized 12,000-watt window unit with an EER of eight will probably cost about $91 per year to run, Seaton said, but if the unit has an EER of six, the cost would be about $121 per year. Another important point in pur chasing an air conditioner is the size of the unit as compared to the area you wish to cool. Each individual unit should have information on the type of room or home it will most efficiently cool. If the unit is too small, Seaton explained, the unit will run constantly without achieving the desired result. A unit that is too large will not properly dehumidify the home or aprtment. Cleaning your existing unit, whether that means cleaning or changing filters or washing or vacuuming a central air unit, will make it run more efficiently and save a few dollars off your bill. Properly seal doors to the outside and cover windows that have a southern exposure with a blind or drapery to reduce the amount of solar heat coming in during the day. 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