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Is Your Cooling System Ready for Summer?

By taking action now, you'll save money and stay cool during the hot summer months.

Is Your Cooling System Ready for Summer?

Air conditioning can take up a big chunk of your summer operating budget. Take these steps to optimize system performance and save money.

Published: 3/5/2024 8:17:19 PM

By taking action now, you'll save money and stay cool during the hot summer months.

Rooftop air conditioning units

Air conditioning takes a big chunk out of your summer operating budget, accounting for nearly 15% of total annual electricity use in a typical commercial building. By taking steps to ensure that your cooling system and your facility are operating at peak efficiency, you'll stay cool and realize some hot savings.

Optimizing system performance

Maintenance, combined with small upgrades, will help ensure that your cooling system is ready to handle the hot, humid days of summer.

Maintain your system. Winter can be hard on rooftop air conditioning units and other outdoor system components. Have your air conditioning system cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional before the start of the cooling season. Check air filters monthly and replace them if needed.

Seal ducts. Leaky duct systems can result in energy losses of 15% to 30%, increasing cooling costs and reducing comfort. Test ductwork with fan pressure or flow meters to identify the extent of leakage. Seal accessible ducts with mastic tape. Hire a qualified contractor if you suspect a problem.

Install economizers. Economizers bring in outside air to provide free cooling. Connected to the outdoors, an economizer is comprised of a sensor and a damper. When outdoor temperature and humidity levels are right, the damper opens and brings in outside air. Economizers are most effective in moderate climates.

Upgrade with heat pumps

If your cooling system is more than 15 years old or in need of repair, now is the perfect time to consider upgrading to high-efficiency geothermal or air-source heat pumps. Heat pumps move heat inside or outside of buildings to provide energy-efficient, year-round comfort.

Since heat pumps move heat rather than create it (as in traditional fossil-fueled heating systems) they can offer efficiencies of up to 300% or more. Heat pumps also offer excellent humidity control and produce no onsite emissions, making your place of business more comfortable and healthier.

Around your facility

Cooling efficiency doesn't stop at the air vents. There are plenty of things you can do around your facility to save energy this summer.

Adjust temperatures. Use building automation controls to adjust indoor temperatures to accommodate your hours of operation or occupancy schedule. This is the simplest and most cost-effective method for controlling cooling costs.

Circulate the air. Circulating air fans reduce the need for air conditioning by making people feel cooler. Large ceiling fans are particularly effective in circulating air throughout a space. In some cases, using a ceiling fan allows you to raise the thermostat four degrees with no loss in comfort.

Weatherize. Air leaks reduce the effectiveness of your cooling system, costing you money. Check for air leaks around doors and windows and seal with caulking or weatherstripping. Make sure your building is insulated according to levels recommended in ASHRAE 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings or your local energy code.

With proper maintenance and timely upgrades, you can improve cooling system efficiency, save money and enhance the comfort of your facility.

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Contact Info

Clay-Union Electric
P.O. Box 317
31321 SD Hwy. 19
Vermillion, SD 57069

605-624-2673 or 1-800-696-2832

Office Hours: M-F 7:30-4:00
 

Mission Statement

Our Mission is to provide safe, reliable and
affordable electric service to our members,
now and into the future!

Safe Electricity

Safe Electricity

Board and Employee Login

©2025 Clay-Union Electric. All Rights Reserved..

  • Home
  • Your Account
    • Capital Credits
    • Start Service
    • Pay Online/My Account
    • Billing FAQ
      • Billing Cycle and Due Date
      • Budget Billing
      • Payment Options
      • Rates
      • SD Energy Assistance
    • Yard/Street Light Repair
  • About Us/History
    • Nondiscrimination Statement
    • Our History
    • Board Directors and Service Area
    • By-Laws
    • Privacy Policy
  • Member Programs
    • Rebates and Incentives
      • Heat Pump Rebates
      • Irrigation Rebates
      • Marathon Water Heaters
      • Replacement Appliance Rebates
    • Distributed Energy Resouces
    • Load Control
    • REC Program
    • REED Fund
  • News and Community
    • Basin Bus Tour
    • Clay County Fair/Member Appreciation Day
    • Cooperative "Sparks" Newsletter
    • Energy Solutions
      • Beat the heat this summer
      • Generation Mix
      • Home Safe Home
    • Treated Wood Consumer Information
    • Youth Programs
      • Basin Youth Excursion
      • Scholarship Opportunities
      • Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week
      • Washington DC Youth Tour
  • Employment Opportunities
    • Other Cooperative Employment Opportunities
  • Safety
    • 811 Call Before You Dig
    • Back-to-school preparation includes life-saving driving tips
    • Farm Safety
    • Grain Bin Clearance
    • Space Heater Safety
    • Tree Planting
    • Winter Power Line Safety
  • Contact Us