5 Easy Ways to Cut Summer Energy Bills

July 10th, 2013 | by: SM SOLD | Posted in : Real Estate Tips

The summer heat is slowly creeping up on us and usually that means the utility bills will rise. This summer do everything you can to keep your energy bill low with these helpful tips to reduce your air conditioning and fan spinning costs.

Clean Filters

To keep you’re A/C from overheating and effectively running during peak season—make sure you replace your filter. With a dirty filter you are significantly blocking airflow and reducing the systems efficiency. Replacing your filter with a new one can reduce your conditioner’s energy consumption by up to 15% and leave you with cleaner air!

For the months you use your air conditioning the most you should replace or clean your filter once a month, especially if you have pets or located in a particularly dusty area.

Insulate

According to Energy Star insulation can reduce heating and cooling costs as much as 20 percent. If you’re only going to pick one place to insulate choose the attic. The heat will radiate down into your home with temperatures anywhere up to 140 degrees or higher in the summer. Insulation can stop the flow of heat and trap it in the attic where it belongs.

Shade the Windows

Shades won’t actually reduce air leakage either in or out, but they play a big role in energy saving. Consider an awning that can reduce solar heat up to 77 percent. Interior blinds are great to control sunlight and ventilation. The U.S Energy Departments estimates with highly reflective blinds you can reduce heat gain by approximately 45 percent. Try closing your blinds and shades to help the sun from heating up the house.

Invest in a Smart Thermostat

Setting your thermostat as high as comfortably possible will drastically help your energy bill. The smaller the difference between inside and outside, the lower your cooling bill will be. Using a smart thermostat that you can program to fit your habits and needs will significantly help your bill because it will shut the cooling off when you’re not home or on vacation.

Turn Off and Unplug

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average household spends $100 a year on plugged in devises not being directly used. Nationwide, idle gadgets consume 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity costing $11 billion to consumers.