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Jul 19, 2014
5 Effective Ways for Homeowners to Cut Summer Energy Bills
There is a good chance that your recent energy bill was quite high
- maybe even higher than usual. This is because the summer forces you to
utilize a number of appliances that demand more energy. Namely, your air
conditioner is working on overdrive to cool your home, so that you can beat the
heat and live more comfortably. However, there are a number of reasons why your
energy bill may be higher than it should be. You may have an energy leak. You also
may be leaving lights on and leaving certain gadgets plugged in longer than
they should be plugged in. Luckily, there are a number of ways to reduce your
energy usage and save money. Here are five effective ways for homeowners to cut summer energy bills.
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1. Lower your reliance on
your air conditioning system. If you read the heating and air conditioning FAQs on
any HVAC website, you will notice questions regarding high energy bills popping
up a lot. This is because a lot of people wonder how they can reduce their
utility costs. Well, the simplest way to reduce your costs is to reduce your
reliance on your air conditioner - try programming it, so that it only goes off
when you need. In most cases, you don't need to run your air conditioner all
day and night.
2. Use fresh air to cool
your home. Another way to cut summer energy bills and reduce your reliance on
your air conditioner is to use fresh air to cool your home as opposed to the
air conditioner. At night - when the weather is particularly moderate - you
want to open your windows and let the fresh cold night air in. In the morning,
you can close all the windows to trap the air inside. This can significantly
cut costs, because the cool night air is totally natural.
3. Make sure to turn off
lights and unplug appliances. It is critical that you unplug all the different
appliances in your home that you typically leave plugged in, like computers,
cell phones and even televisions. Even though these items are plugged in, they
are still using energy. Also, you want to remember to turn off lights before
you exit a room - in the summertime, leaving on unnecessary lights is one of
the best ways to waste money and energy.
4. Utilize ceiling fans. If
you want to cool down a certain room, you can get a lot of relief from the heat
by using a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans have the power to circulate the air in a
room, which can ultimately cool it down. Plus, sitting under a ceiling fan can
offer a tremendous amount of relief. Just remember, though, to turn off the fan
when you leave the room.
5. Update or maintain your
HVAC system. Another effective way to cut costs is to maintain or update your
air conditioning system. If you have an older system, you may want to think of
purchasing a new one. If the system you currently have is relatively new or
still operable, you may want to replace the filter, clean the coils and wipe
down the fan. In the end, the more effective your air conditioner, the lower
your energy bills will be.
5 DIY High-Efficiency Home Improvement Projects that Save You Money
Most homeowners are capable of taking on
simple home improvements themselves. But when it comes to the prospect of
making your home more energy efficient, you may mistakenly believe that such
projects should be left to the pros. And while you probably don't want to
tangle with installing a modern, energy-efficient AC unit on your own, there
are certainly tasks you can tackle that don't require you to have the knowledge
and skill of a licensed technician. The best part is that you can not only save
money by adopting a DIY attitude; you can also save over time as your upgrades
make your home more energy efficient, cutting your carbon footprint and your
monthly utility bills in the process. Here are just a few fantastic home improvement projects that will increase energy efficiency and save your household money.
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1. Install
energy film. One of the least expensive ways to improve the energy efficiency
in your home is to use a product that stops the sun's heat-producing rays from
turning your house into an oven. Energy film is a clingy, transparent sheet
that you can cut to size and then stick and re-stick to windows throughout your
home. This product could block as much as 90% of the sun's heat-producing rays,
lowering your reliance on electrical cooling for your interior and cutting your
energy usage in the process. Best of all, you can remove it during the winter
months when the sun coming in can help to heat your home naturally.
2. Seal
leaks. If you're really gung-ho, you can attempt to perform a home energy audit
on your own as a way to find sources of energy waste. But even online tutorials
won't provide you with the equipment and experience a pro brings to the table.
That said, hiring a professional home energy auditor will ensure that you end
up with a comprehensive listing of the energy issues in your home, giving you
the information you need to start adding weather stripping and sealing leaks
throughout your structure to improve energy efficiency. Just don't forget that
sealing your home may lead to the need for increased ventilation, so you should
talk to your HVAC technician about testing your interior air quality the next
time you have a service call.
3. Install
a programmable thermostat. You can save some money by upgrading from your
standard dial or digital thermostat to a programmable version, provided you
follow instructions. Just remember to turn off the electricity before you begin
so that you don't zap yourself. Once you've installed your new unit you can
program it with Department of Energy guidelines in mind: no higher than 68?F in
winter, no lower than 78?F in summer, and dial it back 10-15 degrees during the
hours you're at work and while you're sleeping for optimum savings.
4. Optimize
lighting. Using natural light as much as possible is a great way to save on
your energy bill, so think about installing mirrors throughout your home to
bounce and optimize the light coming in. From there it's a good idea to upgrade
your electric illumination. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) last up to 10
times as long as regular incandescent bulbs and they use about a third of the
energy for the same relative wattage. And they fit in standard fixtures. LEDs
are even more efficient, but you may have to install new lighting fixtures to
use them.
5. Add
insulation. You don't have to understand ductwork design principles or the ins and outs of your HVAC
system in order to reduce your need for heating and AC; all you have to do is
beef up inadequate insulation. And if you have exposed batting or fill in
problem areas like the attic or basement, this is easily accomplished.
Added Note:
Are you in a budget but still dreaming to create a
luxury look of your home? You should check out these 61 cheap home DIY hacks and get inspired!
