205-655-2396 We’ve made it to the dog days of summer when the unrelenting sun pairs up with the unrelenting humidity to form sweltering conditions every time you set foot outside. This scorching heat makes keeping your home comfortable all the more important since it’s one of the few refuges from the Alabama summer.
Unfortunately, keeping your home in perfect coolness also comes with increasing energy bills leaving us seeking ways to save money and reduce energy consumption.
There are several ways we can lower our energy consumption, and thus our cooling costs, this summer. Here are a few tips:
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Manage Your Thermostat
While it might be tempting to drop your thermostat to 65 degrees when you come inside after a long day, resist the temptation. The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees for optimal efficiency. If you want to keep your house cooler than 78, keep in mind that for every degree you raise the temperature, you can save up to 5% on your cooling costs.
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Utilize Ventilation and Air Circulation
Take advantage of natural ventilation and open windows and doors when the outside temperature is cooler than the inside temperature. This will help to circulate fresh, cool air throughout your home.
Whether the windows are open or not, fans circulate cool air. Ceiling fans and portable fans are much less expensive to operate than air conditioners and can be just as effective at keeping you comfortable.
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Close Blinds and Curtains During the Day
Once your air conditioner clicks on, it’s time to close the windows back up. If you leave them open, you’ll simply waste all of the hard-earned cold air your AC unit just generated.
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Avoid Using Appliances that Generate Heat
Ovens, stovetops, clothes dryers, and hair dryers exude large amounts of heat when they’re in operation. Using them in the middle of the day will work directly against your home’s air conditioning system. If you need to use them, do so early in the morning or late at night when it’s cooler outside.
These simple tips will save money on your summer cooling costs and help conserve energy. If you have questions about how your air conditioning system should operate or are interested in upgrading your system, contact our team at Wilbur’s Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing for assistance!
