Back HomeSummer Energy Saving Tips!
With higher temperatures often comes…higher energy bills, as we attempt to combat the heat outside with cool, air-conditioned interiors. To help you shave a few dollars off your energy bills all summer long, here are some tips and tricks for reducing your energy consumption and saving some money. From little fixes to some more major projects, these changes will help you stay calm, cool, and collected this summer.
Install a Smart Thermostat. Smart thermostats can automatically adjust your home’s temperature when you’re asleep or away to whatever your preferences are. While these high-tech gadgets require an initial investment, they have the potential to reduce your cooling bill by about 10 percent!
Use Your Ceiling Fan(s). Have ceiling fans in your home? Use them! Ceiling fans utilize about 10 percent of the energy that an A/C unit does. Make sure your fans are set to a counterclockwise direction to push the cooler air down.
Shade Your Windows. Sunlight entering through windows can significantly heat up your house, causing your A/C unit to work overtime. Keep your blinds shut or install heavier shutters or curtains to keep the heat out this summer!
Set the Temperature Higher — and Leave It. Set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can comfortably live in. And keep it there! The less you change the temperature, the less your unit must work to adjust. Remember that each degree you raise your thermostat equals more savings… up to 5% on your monthly cooling costs.
Add Insulation.Adding insulation to your home can reduce heating and cooling costs. Homes built prior to 1982 were not required to have insulation. If your home was constructed before 1982, you may benefit from adding the proper insulation.
Regularly Replace Your Filter. Dusty and dirty filters can block airflow and make your system work harder. Replacing your filter once a month can reduce your energy consumption by 5–15 percent!
Turn Off the A/C When You Leave. When you leave for summer vacation, make sure you turn off your A/C — or set it to 80 degrees. While you may return to a warm house, you’ll be thankful you saved all that money on your monthly bill.
Properly Maintain Your A/C System. The better you take care of your system, the better it will run — and the more money you will save. Schedule a routine maintenance checkup at the start of both the hotter and colder months to make sure everything is running smoothly!
Seal it up. Make sure your refrigerator has a tight seal. If you don’t have one all the way around the door, it’s almost the same as leaving the door open.
Get Outside and Grill: Cooking on the grill helps you save energy. It doesn’t heat up your home and make your air conditioning system work harder than necessary.
Upgrade to LED light bulbs. Lighting used to be a common source of unwanted summertime heat, but in this age of affordable LED lighting, there’s no need to sit in the dark. LED light bulbs stay cool to the touch, all while drawing a fraction of the power used by incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. Make a plan to upgrade all the bulbs in your home, even if you just buy a few bulbs per month.
Enjoy your Summer!
Kim N. Bregman