5 Simple Hacks to Reduce Your Summer Energy Bills
Cincinnati summers can get pretty brutal and that means your utility bills can follow suit. High energy bills are never good, so the home energy experts at Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air have put together some simple hacks to help you save money and keep your energy bills low this summer.
1. Save Big by Using a Programmable Thermostat
If your home does not have a programmable thermostat, we highly recommend it. Programmable thermostats are one of the best ways to save money. According to the energy.gov website, Through proper use of a programmable thermostat (using the four pre-programmed settings) the average homeowner can save about $180 every year in energy costs. The $180 savings assumes a typical, single-family home with a 10-hour daytime setback of 8° F in winter and a setup of 7° F in summer, and an 8-hour nighttime setback of 8° F in winter and a setup of 4° F in summer. Programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal before you wake or return home.
2. Ceiling Fans Make Your Home Feel Cooler
Running your ceiling fans will make the temperature in your home seem cooler. This is due to the wind chill effect of air moving over your skin. Moving air increases the evaporation of moisture from your body which is what makes you feel cooler. You can also use circulating fans, and bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans too. Run them whenever you take a shower or cook to remove heat and moisture from your home.
3. Replace Your Light Bulbs with LEDs
If you haven’t done it yet, replace your old incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. While they are more expensive to purchase, LED bulbs use less power (watts), last way longer (1,200 hours vs. 50,000 hours), and emit a lot less heat (3.4 btu’s per hour vs. 85 btu’s/hour). All of this will help lower your electric bills too.
4. Use Your Windows to Your Advantage
Don’t let solar gain add to your home’s temperature. Close your blinds during the day to keep the heat of the sun’s rays out and open your windows on cooler evenings to help your home cool.
5. Help Your Air Conditioner Run Efficiently
One of the most important things you can do is change the filter in your air conditioner regularly. A dirty filter makes it harder for your AC to cool your home which means it is less efficient and uses more energy (higher utility bills). Also, get your air conditioner tuned up. This will ensure your system is running efficiently (cooling better) and will help you avoid breakdowns as well as save money on energy bills.