Teaching children early about using HVAC systems wisely has a lifetime payoff that helps them and the planet. As the largest single energy user in homes and buildings, it’s important that children learn early about saving energy at home.
1. Energy Efficiency
Children learn by example, so it’s important to practice habits like keeping exterior doors closed when the air conditioner is running, and making sure all the windows are tightly closed and locked. If their bedrooms get hot during the day because of sunny windows, show them how to close the curtains or the blinds to lower the heat gain.
2. Saving Energy
Although the air conditioner is the biggest energy user in the summer, teaching children to save energy with the other appliances and devices will make them conscientious energy consumers. Ask them to:
- Turn off lights when they leave a room.
- Unplug battery chargers when they’ve charged the devices.
- Not stand in front of the refrigerator with the door open while they make up their minds.
- Turn off ceiling fans when they exit a room. Ceiling fans don’t actually cool a room. Instead, they increase indoor comfort by evaporating the moisture on skin faster. When the room isn’t occupied, there’s no point in running a fan. One possible exception is if the thermostat for your central air conditioning is in a location that tends to stay warmer than the rest of the home. The increased air circulation from the ceiling fan could distribute the cooled air near the thermostat and ensure that the air conditioner doesn’t stay on longer than necessary. One other possible exception: If you have poor circulation in your home and the ceiling fan helps facilitate the movement of cooler air between rooms of differing temperatures. Still, the advice is good. In general, turn off the fan when you’re not nearby.
When you practice these habits, there’s a far greater chance that your children will too.
3. Maintenance
Once they’re old enough to be responsible, tell them to:
- Never leave their toys around the outdoor condenser or put anything on top of it.
- Not to place things on top of the registers or put things inside them.
Blocked airflow through the condenser or the ductwork lowers the efficiency of the equipment and could result in a mechanical problem with the HVAC system.
Teaching children to care for appliances helps them learn about energy efficiency and energy savings. To schedule routine maintenance (another learning opportunity) for your HVAC system, contact Jackson & Sons, providing HVAC services for eastern North Carolina homeowners and business owners for 44 years.
Jackson & Sons, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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