Saturday 9 April 2016

Spring into Savings, Part 1



We’re pretty well into spring now, and summer is just around the corner. Some of us are already sweating the high temps, but the raised temperature doesn’t need to raise your energy bill. Take a few steps now to prepare your home for the oncoming heat, and you’ll be living comfortably and using less energy, which helps you save on electricity.

            Windows
            If it’s cool enough at night, leave your windows open and the AC off overnight. The cool air will keep you comfortable enough that you won’t need to crank up the energy sucking air conditioner. Come morning, shut all of the windows and close blinds or curtains on south and west facing sides of your home. This will help keep some of that cool air inside and reduce how much heat is gained from sunlight during the day. You can also look into special window coverings that let in light, but block UV rays, which cause your home’s internal temperature to rise.
Spring into Savings

            Thermostats
            Properly programming or operating a thermostat is key to saving money on electricity. The trick is to keep your home’s internal temperature as close to the outdoor temperature as possible, while still remaining comfortable. Set your thermostat as high as you’re comfortable with, and program it if possible to maintain this temperature during the times that people are home and awake. Set it even higher for times when no one is home or everyone is asleep. Also, remember that setting the temp lower on the thermostat doesn’t cool your home any faster, so only set it to the level you need.

            Fans
            It may seem like a waste to run a fan while the AC is on, but if you are in a room with a fan and the AC running, you can raise the thermostat setting for that room by up to 4°F and still feel just as comfortable. Fans utilize the wind chill effect to help keep you cool, but if no one can feel the fan, the wind chill won’t have an effect. Turn off fans in rooms with no one in them.

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