The sweaty, humid summer months are on their way to the Atlanta area. But summer doesn’t have to mean high utility bills. Save money by using these 10 simple home energy efficiency tips.
- Be a thermostat watchdog - You can easily save money in the summer by keeping your house warmer than normal when you’re away and keeping it around 78°F when you are home. Or you can install a programmable thermostat to automate everything for maximum savings.
- Minimize the use of your oven – Your stove and oven introduce a lot of heat into your home – heat that then has to be removed by your air conditioner. Avoid using your oven during the heat of the day, when your AC is already working hard, and minimize its use in general by preparing cold meals.
- Use your ceiling fans - According to Energy.gov, if you turn on your ceiling fan, you can raise your thermostat setting about 4°F without feeling uncomfortable. Just remember to turn off the fan when you’re not in the room. Fans don’t make your home cooler; the wind chill effect just makes it feel cooler.
- Use your bathroom fans - Whenever you take a shower or bath, turn on your bathroom’s fan to remove the heat and humidity.
- Air seal your home - Cracks and openings allow warm air to leak into your home and your cool, conditioned air to escape, causing your air conditioner to run longer than it needs to. Check out Energy.gov’s article on air sealing your home.
- Close your blinds - Closing your blinds when you’re away will block out the sun’s rays, making your interior spaces feel cooler so your air conditioner won’t work as hard. Learn more about energy-efficient window treatments at Energy.gov.
- Change your home’s air filter - Imagine someone putting a pillow over your face; you’d have to breathe harder to get the air you need. A dirty air filter does the same to your air conditioner, causing it to work harder to get the air you need, running up your energy bill as a result. Check your air filter at least once a month and change it, if needed.
- Add insulation in your home - Older homes might not have enough insulation. Insulation helps keep the heat from escaping your home during the winter and the heat out during the summer, lowering your utility bills. Find out if you need insulation from this ENERGY STAR article.
- Install a dehumidifier - Whether you get a portable or a whole-home version, dehumidifiers can make your home feel less hot by sucking the humidity out of the air, making you feel more comfortable (no more of that nasty, sticky feeling).
- Keep your air conditioner tuned up - Your air conditioner needs an annual tune-up to:
- Work as efficiently as possible, saving you money
- Keep it from breaking down during the summer (dirt and neglect are the number one causes of HVAC system failure)
