Does Heating or Cooling Use More Energy? A FL Tech Answers

To the surprise of many, air conditioners are more energy efficient than furnaces or boilers. It actually takes less energy to cool down an interior space by one degree than to heat it up by one degree. But does this mean that it’s cheaper to use the AC rather than the heater? Studies indicate that it might be.

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Living in Cold vs. Hot Climates

One thing we could say is on our side is our location. In the US, living in a colder climate (for example, New York or Illinois) is more energy demanding than living in a hot climate like the one we have in Florida.

Furthermore, experts still say that both heating and cooling your home takes large amounts of energy – more than we use for any other home appliance – but according to researchers at the National Geographic’s The Green Guide, it seems as though heating your home takes more energy than trying to cool it.

CO2 Emission

If you’ve lived up North or know someone who does, you probably know that in colder states, heating can account for up to two-thirds of your annual energy bills, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

When it comes to measuring just about how much energy you’re using to heat or cool your home, most homes are heated and measured with carbon dioxide (CO2, which is a major warming gas).

For example, for an average use of electricity, your CO2 emissions can average about 4,7000 pounds. If you’re trying to heat your home in a colder state, you could be using anywhere between 8,000 pounds of CO2 for natural gas and 9,900 pounds of CO2 for electric heat.

Now, in Florida, a hotter part of the country, the numbers change. Typically a central AC unit produces only about 6,000 pounds of CO2.

Reducing Your Cost

Though every AC and Heating system is different, one of the best ways to reduce your usage of CO2 pounds is to simply adjust your thermostat. For example, if you have a central AC unit, for every degree you set about 72 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re saving about 120 pounds of CO2 emissions, therefore reducing your bill.

Why This Matters

Having an automatic and programmable thermostat not only reduces your energy bill but it also saves energy. If every home saved energy by having a programmable thermostat, our planet would be greener, but we can start one home at a time. Purchase a programmable thermostat with us today.

Climate Design Can Help

At Climate Design, we provide HVAC services all over Tampa Bay: Clearwater, Largo, Palm Harbor, South Tampa, St. Pete Beach, Eastlake, Tarpon Springs, Safety Harbor, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, and New Port Richey.

If you’re having HVAC issues, we can help! Call us 24/7.