4 Energy Saving Tips to Lower Your Electric Bill
Back to BlogFor homeowners, every dollar spent towards heating and cooling is a dollar that can’t be spent on more enjoyable things like home furnishings, restaurant meals and weekend trips. Just as no one wants to waste electricity, no one who’s serious about their budget wants to spend unnecessary funds on heating and cooling.
Can Saving Energy Really Be This Easy?
In the olden days, inefficient HVAC systems and drafty structures made it difficult to save money on heating and cooling. However, times have changed. Today, it’s easier than ever to make a few small changes that can add up to big energy savings for families of any size. Some of the most popular and simple include:
1. Keep the Sunny Side of Your House in the Shade
During the hot months, the sun’s rays can warm the interior of your home to an uncomfortable extent and force your air conditioning system to work harder. Fight back by investing in heavy blinds on the sunny sides of your house – typically southern and western exposures – and planting trees or shrubs that shade these areas. Between late morning and sundown, keep the blinds and shutters drawn here as well. If the temperature drops significantly at night, opening them after dark may actually help your house cool down faster.
2. Use a Programmable Thermostat
In our always-on-the-go society, it doesn’t make sense to heat or cool an empty house to the same degree as an occupied one. Use a programmable thermostat to reach your home’s desired comfort level in the evening and overnight. When everyone leaves for work and school in the morning, make sure its settings are turned to more efficient levels. Of course, don’t leave your house so hot or cold that it spoils your food or bursts your pipes.
3. Use a Crock Pot and Other Energy-Saving Appliances During the Summer
Making an oven-cooked meal in a hot kitchen is an uncomfortable experience. It could also be a wasteful one. Ovens counteract the effects of air conditioners and require them to work harder to provide cooling air. They use more energy and produce more heat than energy-efficient cooking appliances like Crock Pots. In the summer, consider this low-tech alternative to save on electricity costs.
4. Update Your Devices and Fixtures
According to numerous studies, switching to efficient light bulbs like CFLs and LEDs can dramatically reduce your electricity costs. Since these bulbs burn out less frequently, they also necessitate fewer trips to the hardware store. A 30-minute sweep of your house could produce years of savings.
Lower Your Electric Bill with a Trusted HVAC Partner
These are just a few of the many ways in which you can safely and easily reduce your electric bill and keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket. Over the past 75 years, we’ve discovered plenty of other tips and tricks for budget-conscious homeowners as well. To learn more about how to stretch your heating and cooling dollars further or to schedule a consultation with one of our professionals at Conditioned Air, call us at 478-742-8768 or contact us online.