Air Conditioning and Warm-Climate Weatherization Measures

Weatherization service providers address cooling systems in homes located in warm climates.

By the 1990s, DOE found that states in warm regions were saving much less energy than states in cold regions because people living in warm climates often spend more money on cooling, and most of DOE's weatherization measures previously addressed heating.

In 1994, DOE issued new regulations, including cooling efficiency measures for homes in warm climates. In some cases, crews provide circulating fans such as ceiling fans that circulate inside air. On other houses, they might include ventilating fans such as attic or whole-house fans that introduce cooler outside air at night.

Work crews are also addressing the inefficiencies in ducts that deliver warm air for heating or cool air for cooling in residential systems. DOE has found that these ducts are often leaky and much less efficient than those in commercial systems. For more information about this research, see the Advanced Air Sealing project summary.

Information for Homeowners Receiving Weatherization Services

Visit the Building Technologies Program Web site to learn how to cool your home efficiently during the hot summer months.

Information for Weatherization Service Providers and Energy Professionals

• Heating and Cooling Equipment Selection: Care in Selection Is Key to Low-Cost Operation

  (PDF 90 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
  DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this Web page on when it is cost effective and how to install a whole-house fan for cooling; 4 pp.; January 2002.

• Right Size Heating and Cooling Equipment

  (PDF 181 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
  DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technology" series; 4 pp.; January 2002.