Energy Savings

Yellow EnergyGuide Labels And How To Read Them

Yellow EnergyGuide Labels And How To Read Them

As we get into the dog days of summer and temperatures creep toward that 100-degree mark in the Tulsa area, there's nothing better than the release of getting indoors and cranking up the A/C. But with that relief comes worry: What is this going to do to my energy bill? Energy usage is highly dependent on the efficiency of your A/C unit, and EnergyGuide labels make that information readily accessible, whether you are checking on how much your old unit is costing you or shopping for a new one.The first step to reading your EnergyGuide label is finding it. That's not too hard; it's bright yellow. Once you've found the label, one quick thing you can look for is the Energy Star symbol in the bottom right hand corner. If present, this symbol indicates that this product has been certified to be more energy efficient than standard models by the federal Energy Star program.The next thing you might notice is the "Estimated Yearly Operating Cost." The key word here is "estimated." Although this will give you a decent idea of how much the unit will cost you, the cost will vary with usage and local energy prices. This is a good tool, however, for comparing similar models.Just below the estimated cost, you'll find the "Estimated Yearly Electricity Use." Again, usage varies from area to area and person to person, but if you multiply this number of kWh by the local rate, you can get a better idea of the yearly costs you can expect from the unit.So, whether you are shopping for a new appliance or just checking on your old one, it's a good idea to look for the yellow EnergyGuide label. If you want to learn more about EnergyGuide labels, or anything else about home comfort, don't hesitate to contact us here at Air Assurance, serving the Tulsa metropolitan area since 1985.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!