Summer heat has arrived. I don’t know about you, but my air conditioner seems to be working non-stop to keep our home cool. There are several things you can do to try to keep cooling costs down and keep your electric bill from jumping up.
1. Install a programmable thermostat. Try this programmable thermostate at Target.com for $79.99. This allows you to program a higher temperature when you are away and a lower one when you are home.
2. Use fans. Circulating the air is a good way to fool yourself into thinking your home is cooler than it is.
3. Try a dehumidifier. These units are pretty cheap and will pull the moisture out of the air. Dryer air will feel cooler.
4. Raise the temperature. Increasing your thermostat can save big bucks. For every degree under 78, expect to use 3-4% more electricity.
5. Don’t cool the whole house. Only cool the rooms you use by closing doors and closing registers to limit air flow.
6. Add attic insulation. This is a fairly easy and cost-effective way to save energy costs. For help on calculating just how much insulation you need, check out the Department of Energy website.
7. Plant shade trees. The benefits of this tip won’t show up for a while, but it’s still a good one. The trees will block sunlight from hitting your home.
8. Pull drapes and curtains. Close the blinds. Keeping out the sun will keep your home cooler.
9. Clean your air conditioner unit. Using a garden hose, wash off the condenser coils each year. This will help the unit run more efficiently.
10. Seal up the cracks. Any places where cool air can escape or hot air can enter need to be filled.
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