For most of us, those rising summer temperatures often bring with them rising electric bills. During these hot months, it’s important to keep your home cool, especially as we all continue to spend more time at home. Between June and September is when you can expect to have high electric bills. Did you know that A/C accounts for about 12% of total household energy costs (and 17% of electricity use) nationwide? Even better, the US EIA estimates that in some regions with high humidity that number can rise to as high as 27%. But even with all that energy going towards keeping your A/C operational and your home comfortable, that still leaves a lot of energy to spare.
With that in mind, here are a few helpful tips and automation products to help you maximize your energy savings and money for these long summer days.
Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is designed to automatically set your thermostat based on your set daily schedule and household routine. This means that you can set your desired home temperature based on a few personalized settings. These include daily habits, past preferences, and even local weather conditions. You can even receive notifications on your phone when something goes wrong and adjust accordingly. This will save you convenience and money on your home air conditioning and heating.
Newer models can also integrate into your home smart speaker system. This’ll give you an added layer of convenience and control when compared to a traditional thermostat. All of these features, when set up and utilized properly, can equal substantial energy savings above and beyond the traditional programmable thermostat options.
How cool is that?
LED Light Bulbs
Switching to LED bulbs will save your wallet and time spent switching out your bulbs every few years. Compared to incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs use 75% less energy and last 50-100 times longer. This switch fix is sure to cut down on time changing bulbs and bring up energy savings all year long. So if you get some summer downtime, take a day to go through your house and replace those old bulbs. They could be driving up your energy costs!
Adding More Shade
Curtains and blinds are crucial to keep the strong summer rays to a minimum. Put up a few extra window coverings to help your home stay cool. Keeping shades closed during the hot summer months will help your home stay insulated and keep hot sun rays out. Window tinting is less common in Virginia, but can also be beneficial in keeping energy and A/C costs down.
Ceiling fans
This might seem simple, but using a ceiling fan while your A/C is running will cool your home in minutes. They help by circulating the air coming from your HVAC system. This can help you save up to 40% on your energy bill. Make sure your fan to switch your fan to run counter-clockwise in the summer to direct airflow down.
It’s also important to bear in mind that fans cool people, not rooms. If you aren’t spending time in the room remember to turn it off before you go.
Unplug when not in use
One of the easiest ways to save money is to turn off your electronics when you are not using them. Not only does it save you money on your electricity bill, but all those electronics can also make your A/C work harder, even if it’s just a few degrees. Bear in mind that many devices don’t stop drawing power just because they are off. Remember to completely unplug unnecessary electronics when not in use.
Replace Air Filters
When it comes to a properly maintained and functioning A/C, airflow is key. A clean air filter is key to saving energy, money, your HVAC system, and not to mention your own health. Clogged filters block airflow and can make your AC system run less efficiently, running more often for less result. This makes it vital that you remember this quick and easy fix to ensure your AC unit runs smoothly all year long, and especially when it’s hot outside. We recommend 1-3 months depending on the filter type and the conditions within your home, but a good rule of thumb is if it looks like air can’t go through then go ahead and replace it.
These simple tips and tricks are sure to make a difference on your monthly electric bills. A/C Masters also wants to help our customers raise their energy savings by guaranteeing quality and affordable services that keep your system running better for longer. Our certified technicians are on your side and will make sure your systems are in tip-top shape for whatever the season has in store. Schedule a repair, routine maintenance, or new equipment estimate through our website today or give us a call at 757-898-2894.