Energy Saving Tips for the Summer - Residential HVAC

Energy Saving Tips for the Summer

Energy Saving Tips for the Summer

Summer is usually synonymous with high electricity costs, and as our cities become more overloaded, there has never been a better time to start saving power during these months. It's actually quite easy to start cutting your power costs, and it only takes a few minutes to implement some changes that can drastically reduce how much money you spend each month on energy costs. Let's look at just a few changes you can start right now.

 

Energy Saving Tips for the Summer


1. Only run your air conditioning when you are home.

No one likes coming home to a stuffy house, but there is really no need to run your air conditioner all day when you are not home. Turn that unit off, and you'll see a big change in your power bills. It will take a few minutes to cool off a room or the whole house, but you'll be saving so much money it won't seem as painful.

2. Open the windows at night.

Most places are lucky enough to have a pretty cool breeze during the night. One great trick you can try is opening up the windows when you go to bed and then closing them when you get up. The whole house will remain a lot cooler, and you'll be able to get away with using your air conditioning a lot less. This is a method that was used before air conditioning even existed, and it still works today.

3. Utilize less air conditioning by using more fans.

A simple fan can do a great job of keeping a room cool, and it can help you circulate more cool air throughout your home. Try to find a model that sits on the floor, as well as one that is a bit higher up. Put them in rooms with air conditioning and face them out so that they can pull that cold air to other parts of your home. Fans cost much less than an air conditioning unit to run as well.

4. Consider adding awnings to the southern windows in your home.

This can reduce your home cooling costs by as much as 30 to 40%, especially if you have a lot of southward-facing windows. The initial investment will really pay off. If you can't afford an awning, consider getting insulated drapes that will accomplish a similar task. Once again, you can really make a difference in how much you're paying for energy with this little technique.

Bonus Tip

If you live in an area that has a lot of high winds, it can feel as though you are trapped in a blast furnace. Find the prevailing direction of the winds, and then seal the windows on that side of your house with the same sealer you would use in the winter. It sounds crazy, but it really does work. Older homes that do not have new windows can really benefit from this tip. Limiting how much hot air you have in your home will feel a lot cooler.

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