Air Conditioning Energy and Money Saving Tips
Ahh, the heat of summer! 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. 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.
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.
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 80-85 degrees. While you may return to a scorching house, you’ll be thankful you saved all that money on your monthly bill.
Properly Maintain Your 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!