When the mercury spikes your first instinct might be to crank up the A/C, but that’s a burn you’ll feel later. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite ways to stay cool this summer while being easy on your energy bill and kind to the planet: Stay Cool This Summer! 7 Energy Efficient Tips for your Home.
One of the simplest things you can do to keep you and your family cool is to make sure your air conditioner is in perfect working order. We recommend you change your filters every 1-3 months.
Have a certified technician perform maintenance on your air conditioner to improve the performance and life of your unit. We do not recommend that any homeowner ever perform their own maintenance, this should always been done by a professional. Find a RESNET certified professional near you.
When new filters and maintenance just don’t cut it, it might be time to invest in a new unit. Remember, not all air conditioners were made equal! It’s important to choose the right air conditioner for your home.
Raise the temperature of your air conditioning unit by 1 or 2 degrees, up to 78 degrees. You could save 3-5% off your energy bill just by raising the temperature a bit. Plus, your air conditioner won’t have to struggle to get the house to a comfortable coolness, reducing overall wear and tear on your unit.
A ceiling fan is a great way of working with your air conditioner, especially if you’ve raised the temperature slightly. For optimum performance, ensure the blades are spinning counter-clockwise. The air-flow from this creates a wind-chill effect that makes you feel cooler.
Already have vertical blinds? Angle them slightly so the concave part of the blind reflects sunlight up and away from your house. This works great whether you’re using your air conditioning or not, and can block up to 65% of the heat that would otherwise enter your home through the windows.
If you’re not already using a programmable thermostat, have one installed. You can preset a program that will raise the temperature during the day when no one is at home and in the cooler nighttime hours, or if you go on vacation for a few days, then lower it again just before you get home. Some thermostats can even be controlled from your smartphone!
Stay cool this summer with more energy saving tips!