6 Ways to Lower Your Energy Bill During the Summer
As the heat index rises in the summer, your energy bill might do the same as you try to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to lower your energy consumption and cut costs while still staying cool. As a bonus, you can help the environment while helping your wallet!
In this guide, we’ll help you figure out how to save money on energy by covering six steps you can take.
1. Use Your Air Conditioner Less
You may feel tempted to run your air conditioner more when trying to keep your home cool in the summer. However, constantly running your AC will raise your energy bills. These devices use a considerable amount of energy — about 10% of all electricity produced in the U.S. Consider these alternatives to lower your AC energy bill in the summer and remain comfortable:
- Use fans: Fans use less energy and help cool the space by moving the air around your house. As a result, you can set your air conditioner at a higher temperature and save money.
- Put your AC unit on auto: Instead of running your air conditioner at all times, check if you have an automatic setting available. You can set your device to only turn on when it needs to maintain your desired temperature.
- Set the temperature higher: While you may prefer your home ice cold in the summer, each degree you go down takes considerable energy for your air conditioner to maintain. Consider raising the temperature as high as your comfort allows to reduce the energy you use.
2. Know How to Use Your Windows
Understanding how to use your windows correctly in the summer can be the difference between a high energy bill and a low one. If you have an older house, consider replacing your windows with high-impact options, especially if you live in an area prone to hurricanes. Along with being harder to break, high-impact windows filter out UV rays and keep cold air in more effectively.
Another way to keep sunlight from warming your house during the day is to close your blinds. Consider buying blackout blinds to maximize the effect. You can also apply reflective film to the glass to help prevent the sun from heating your home.
You can open your windows at night to bring the fresh, cool air inside. This method lets you save money by turning off your air conditioner or using it less. Make sure you remember to put screens in your windows to prevent bugs from entering.
3. Schedule an Energy Audit
An energy audit is an inspection that assesses a building’s energy flow and how it can conserve energy more effectively. In many cases, your utility provider may be willing to perform this audit for free.
Use this inspection to see what changes you can make to conserve energy, like:
- Replacing windows that let heat in.
- Adding or replacing insulation to rooms.
- Caulking cracks and openings around windows and doors that let cold air out.
Installing a radiant barrier to your attic is also an effective means to keep cool air from leaking out or warm air from sneaking in.
4. Maintain Your AC
Whether you have central air, another type of air conditioning or both, it’s essential to schedule regular maintenance for your equipment. When your air conditioner runs efficiently, it will require less energy to cool your home. Some steps you can take to ensure the greatest efficiency include:
- Making sure furniture isn’t blocking your vents.
- Keeping outdoor plants away from your external air conditioner vents.
- Vacuuming your air vents to remove dust buildup.
You should also have trained professionals check your units regularly. Catching an issue early will save you money by preventing more extensive problems. A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) company can also confirm your air conditioning is working at peak efficiency.
5. Install More Efficient Technology
Another way to lower your energy bill is to incorporate technology that uses less energy. Various devices can help with this, such as:
- LED lightbulbs: These products last about 25 times longer and use 75% less energy than incandescent lightbulbs. They also emit less heat, assisting with reducing your home’s temperature.
- Dehumidifiers: Dehumidifiers remove the moisture from the air in your home, helping your AC unit work more efficiently and cutting energy costs.
- Smart thermostat: This device lets you control your cooling system more effectively. You can save money by keeping your home at a warmer temperature when everyone is gone for the day and program the thermostat to start cooling your space right before you return home. Some areas offer rebates for using a smart thermometer to promote energy efficiency.
- ENERGY STAR appliances: An ENERGY STAR appliance meets strict guidelines for reducing greenhouse emissions. Using these devices can reduce your energy usage, assisting the environment and your wallet.
It’s also beneficial to install appropriately sized air conditioners to ensure you are using a sufficient amount of energy for each room. A professional HVAC company will know how to measure what size AC unit you need.
6. Reduce Your Heat Creation
Most of the energy you use in the summer goes toward powering devices to cool your house. One of the most efficient ways to lower your energy bills is to avoid specific heat-creating actions, including:
- Cooking in the oven: While a casserole may sound nice, using your oven will increase your home’s temperature. Instead, consider eating foods you can make using your microwave, an outside grill or a slow cooker. On hotter days, you can avoid cooking by opting for cold picnic-style meals.
- Drying your clothes: Clothes dryers also add additional heat to your home. In the summer, use the sun’s rays to dry your clothes or hang them on racks inside.
- Washing small loads: All appliances create heat as they operate. To minimize the effect this has on your energy bills, consider only washing your clothes and dishes when you have a full load.
- Taking hot showers: While hot showers feel great, they can add to your home’s heat and cause your energy bills to spike. You can reduce your bills by turning down the temperature on your water heater, taking cold showers and using your bathroom exhaust fan to transfer the humid air outside.
Choose Metro Services HVAC to Reduce Your Energy Bill
If you are interested in lower energy consumption during the summer, we can help at Metro Services HVAC. We have over 20 years of experience in the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning field, so we know the necessary steps to ensure you stay cool while saving money.
Our qualified team members are available to maintain your appliances, ensuring they work as efficiently as possible to reduce your energy use. We can also install more energy-efficient appliances for you or service your devices if they break down. With our help, you can enjoy the benefits of effective AC that cools your space without breaking the bank.
Contact us today for more information about our services and how we can help you save money on energy. We look forward to hearing from you.