Home Cooling Systems - Department of Energy
Your first thought for cooling may be air conditioning. While air conditioning is often required to remain safe and comfortable in the hottest of climates, there are many alternatives that provide cooling with less energy use in climates where passive cooling is sufficient.
Consumer Guide to Home Heating and Cooling Fact Sheet
Learn about types of heating and cooling systems, system maintenance, and best practices for saving energy with your heating and cooling. This fact sheet from Energy Saver also includes information on buying a new heating or cooling system; efficiency ratings; and selecting new systems including air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces.
Radiant Cooling - Department of Energy
Radiant cooling cools a floor or ceiling by absorbing the heat radiated from the rest of the room. When the floor is cooled, it is often referred to as radiant floor cooling; cooling the ceiling is usually done in homes with radiant panels.
Maintaining Your Air Conditioner - Department of Energy
When your air conditioner needs more than regular maintenance, such as when it does not reduce the indoor temperature to a comfortable level, hire a professional service technician. A well-trained technician will find and fix problems in your air conditioning system.
Thermoelectric Coolers | Department of Energy
Thermoelectric cooling is a new technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way things are kept cold, whether it is food, wine, beer or cigars. In fact, it is a completely different approach to refrigeration from standard compressors. How Compressor Coolers Work. Compressors are the heart of refrigerators and air conditioners.
Air-Source Heat Pumps - Department of Energy
An air-source heat pump can provide efficient heating and cooling for your home. When properly installed, an air-source heat pump can deliver up to two to four times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes.
Central Air Conditioning - Department of Energy
Central air conditioners circulate cool air through a system of supply and return ducts. Supply ducts and registers (i.e., openings in the walls, floors, or ceilings covered by grills) carry cooled air from the air conditioner to the home.
Air Conditioning - Department of Energy
An air conditioner cools your home with a cold indoor coil called the evaporator. The condenser, a hot outdoor coil, releases the collected heat outside. The evaporator and condenser coils are serpentine tubing surrounded by aluminum fins.
Home Heating Systems - Department of Energy
An energy-efficient HVAC system alone won't significantly impact your energy bills without the whole-house approach. By combining equipment maintenance and upgrades with proper insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save about 30% on your energy bill and reduce environmental emissions.
Common Air Conditioner Problems - Department of Energy
For a list of common air conditioner problems and what to look for, check out our Energy Saver 101 infographic on home cooling. Other common problems with existing air conditioners result from faulty installation, poor service procedures, and inadequate maintenance .