Hot temperatures are hard on people, pocketbooks, and our electrical systems. Increased demand for electricity during summer months strains a home’s electrical system, increasing the likelihood of an electric shock or fire. This high demand for electricity also makes it more expensive in summer months.
By preparing your home, you can save money, stay comfortable, and decrease demands on the electrical system. The Energy Education Council provides the following tips to save money on cooling costs:
- Use curtains and blinds to keep the sun out on hot days.
- Use ceiling fans. They circulate air and take heat from the body’s surface to create a cooling effect.
- Keep cool air in and hot air out. Avoid unnecessary trips out the door, and do not leave the door open.
- A programmable thermostat allows you to change your home’s temperature based on your daily patterns. The thermostat can allow temperatures to go higher while you are away and to then cool off when you are back in the home.
- Prepare your air conditioner for the hard work it will do over the summer months. Turn off power to the air conditioner before you work on it. Clean or replace filters. Outside, clear leaves and other debris away from the condensing unit. Hose off any accumulated dirt.
- Shade your home by installing awnings over windows in direct sunlight.
- Make sure your home has the insulation it needs. EnergySavers.gov has information about the best insulation to use in different geographic areas.
- Ventilation is one of the most efficient ways to keep a building cool. In breezy, dry climates ventilation can eliminate the need for an air conditioner all together. For the many who need air conditioning to cool their homes, attic vents and fans can help reduce energy costs.
- If you are building a new home or replacing your air conditioner, there are options to maximize efficiency. For starters, look for the Energy Star label for air conditioners that have met energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For those living in arid climates, consider evaporative or swamp coolers, which release moisture into the air for a cooling effect. These coolers work at a fraction of the cost of air conditioners. Also, absorption cooling is essentially an air conditioner that is not run by electricity. Instead, it uses heat from sources such as natural gas or the sun for operation.
For more information on energy safety and efficiency, visit EnergyEdCouncil.org.
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