Are your electricity bills shocking you? Take a look at our 10 best tips to deal with this issue and you will move a step closer to lower bills this summer.
1. Check your ducts for leakage.
Leakage from ducts causes 20 to 40 percent energy loss as they let out conditioned air into unconditioned spaces that result in improper air distribution. An effective way to check all ducts is to get your ducts pressure tested using a duct blaster test. Leaking ducts can then be repaired using special metallic backing tape available for the purpose.
2. Reduce cooling costs by buying a programmable thermostat and lower it three degrees at night.
Set it to 80 degrees when you are at home and 90 degrees when you are away to cut down your energy bills.
3. Provide natural shade to all windows, especially the west facing ones using blinds, awnings shade cloth or by designing your garden so that windows are blocked by trees, large bushes or trellises.
4. During summer time, hang your clothes out to dry.
You will save a lot of energy that your dryer consumes and will find the fresh, sun-dried feel of your clothes. If you have to use the dryer, set it on auto-dry rather than setting a timed cycle.
5. Use CFL’s as much as possible all around your home.
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs are the best way to reduce electric bills. Replace incandescent and other bulbs with these, wherever practical. Install dimmers and timers wherever possible.
6. Use cold or warm water to wash clothes with the exception of soiled and very dirty clothes that need hot water. Always, use cold water for rinsing clothes.
7. An empty refrigerator increases electricity bills.
Keep it full as the mass of all the cooled contents in it help keep the temperature cool. Take care that the refrigerator has a lot of breathing space and clean it’s coils regularly.
8. Use fans in your house.
Fans help circulate air and keep your house cool. Your air conditioner has to work much less if it is accompanied by a ceiling fan.
9. Paint the exterior of your house in white or light colors.
If you have a flat roof, paint the terrace white as well. It will help in reflecting back most of the sun rays and will avoid making your walls too hot. If you have sloping roofs, install light-colored shingles the next time you make changes to it.
10. Insulate to stop heat transfer.
Install insulation in walls, crawl spaces like attics, basements etc. Insulating the ceiling is very cost-effective and stops heat flow from attic into the living and other rooms. If you already have insulation, get it upgraded to an R-38 level which is recommended.
The Author:
Lata Tokhi
Hey, one more thing you should consider to save on your summer bills is leaving your air conditioner running at 72 degrees when you leave for work. It might seem more logical to turn it off completely, but no. Leaving your AC running at this temperature can help maintain a more consistent indoor temperature and avoid drastic fluctuations that may occur if you turn it off completely. In hot climates, the indoor temperature can rise significantly when the AC is turned off, and then the AC has to work harder and consume more energy to cool the house back down when you return.
That’s a great addition to the list of tips for reducing electricity bills during summer. Maintaining a consistent indoor temperature by leaving the air conditioner running at 72 degrees while you’re at work can definitely help save energy. It prevents the AC from having to work harder and consume more energy to cool the house back down when you return. In hot climates, this tip can be particularly effective in ensuring that the indoor temperature doesn’t rise too much, leading to energy inefficiency. Thanks for sharing!