When the summer months hit, the cost of keeping your home cool and comfortable tends to rise as fast as the thermometer mercury. Air conditioning bills for a single home can climb into the hundreds of dollars during this time of year, putting a strain on household finances.
But there are a number of tricks and tips you can use to lower your home’s energy consumption and cut down on energy costs. Although some may seem trivial, the savings can add up quickly and put more cash in your wallet.
For many homes, the first place to look is the kitchen. Consider washing all your dishes in the dishwasher – a more efficient method than washing by hand – and air drying instead of drying in the dishwasher. Cook and heat up food in microwave whenever possible, which is more efficient than stove-top or oven cooking. And large quantities of refrigerated food can actually cut down on cooling costs because there is less cool air that escapes when you open the fridge door.
You can also perform light maintenance and upkeep on your home to control energy loss. Replace old weather-stripping, caulk around doors and windows, and place foam gaskets behind electrical outlet covers to seal off air leaks.
Other free ways to cut down on energy costs include unplugging appliances and electrical cords from outlets when the items are not in use. Even when turned off, items that are plugged into an outlet continue to consume electricity. Turning off lights when you leave a room, as well as setting your thermostat higher – around 78 degrees is ideal – can also lower costs.
You can invest in future electricity savings by purchasing Energy Star-certified appliances, which are guaranteed to cut down on energy consumption compared to non-certified appliances. Make sure your attic is insulated to minimize air leaks and keep hot air out. Vinyl window shades, particularly those that are externally fixed, can keep sunlight from heating up your home’s interior and increasing the workload of your air conditioner. And a new Energy Star-certified air conditioner can save you up to 10 percent on your energy bills.
For more expert advice about lowering warm-weather energy costs and other issues related to home comfort, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin areas for more than 33 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy costs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Energy 1 Heating services the Lorain, OH area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area