Lowering energy costs as the temperature goes up

During the summer months, it is hard to keep cool without completely breaking the bank. But there are a few simple ways to keep bills low while helping to making sure that the heat does not get to you.

One way to save money is by turning off your air conditioner when it is not needed. Even adjusting the temperature slightly before leaving the house should produce savings. An easy way to do this is by using an electric programmable thermostat.

Using a programmable thermostat allows you to turn the air conditioner off which should translate into energy efficiency and cost savings. And, using a programmable thermostat will remove the hassle of constantly adjusting the thermostat and the dread of coming home to a very hot house.

In addition, you can unplug electronics that are not being used, such as cell phone chargers, small appliances or power strips. By doing this, less energy will be used which should also result in cost savings.

Regularly cleaning the air conditioners’ vents should more than likely increase the machines’ efficiency and also lowering the energy bill. An AC unit functions more efficiently when its filters, coils and fins are maintained consistently.  PSEG-Long Island advises to, “Replace and clean air filters. Dirty filters make the air conditioner work harder, restricting air flow, causing dust to re-circulate in the air and causing the unit to be less efficient by using a soft brush.”

No air conditioner, you can also get significant use out of ceiling fans. A ceiling fan also supplements rooms with air conditioners as well. The fans should cool a room by roughly 4º, allowing you to turn the thermostat down accordingly. If the climate allows it, you can even eliminate air conditioning altogether and only use the fan.

You can also take advantage of natural weather patterns. If you live in a climate where there are cool nights or regular breezes, it is a great way to eliminate electricity usage altogether. Opening windows when it cools down outside and allowing breezes to flow in can accomplish this.

During the daytime, you can shade the sun with blinds and drapes that you might already own. Some carefully selected window treatments can prevent a house from heating up under the summer sun.

Being that the summer weather lends itself to outdoor activities, one of the better ways to lower energy costs is to spend time outside the home, as all the electronic devices from computers to televisions and those air conditioners will not be consuming all that power, and in the process you can enjoy the summer and turn down the heat on your bill.