Most people shudder when they imagine their incoming electric bills immediately before they crank up the air conditioning. Despite the threat of higher fees, the in-the-moment suffering from the hot rays of the sun can make the price hike worth it, or so it seems at first. It doesn’t have to be a choice between exorbitant fees and dealing with the heat, however; there are a number of ways to drop costs while still keeping cool.
Your Summer Electric Bill and You
While opening the window may do some good, it won’t usually make enough of a difference. The instinct is to turn the air conditioner as low as it will go, but keeping an eye on the system will do you a lot of good. Keeping the settings at 78 or higher will save you a ton of money, and if you can raise it even higher and stay comfortable, that will only lessen the costs. Many people assume a certain level of discomfort and would truthfully be perfectly fine at a higher temperature. To account for the difference, ceiling and electric fans can be placed in the main rooms within homes to circulate air and keep it from becoming stagnant or as hot as it might otherwise.
Other factors that come into play when trying to keep cool and drop prices are energy efficient lightbulbs. Your summer electric bill will suffer if more wasteful and/or powerful bulbs are used continuously, so consider a choice such as compact fluorescent bulbs. The internal temperature is influenced further by the state of the building’s insulation; likely, the last time you considered your insulation was during the dead of winter, but it is important to remember when trying to keep the sun from heating up the house from the outside in. Particularly if there are window-placed air conditioners, care should be taken to prevent gaps between the system and the window so that hot air is kept out so that the AC can do its job.
“Energy vampires” are the power-sucking devices like TVs and computer that, when plugged in continuously, can also drive up your summer electric bill. It’s unrealistic that anyone would remove all plugs after each use, but make an effort to at least remove unused lamps, power strips, and other products so this energy consumption doesn’t play as large of a role.
Other tips include:
- “Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep heat out.
- Turn off all unnecessary lights.
- On days when the temperature reaches 90 degrees or more, it is best to wait until after 6:00 pm before cooking, doing laundry or washing dishes.
- Microwave ovens, pressure cookers and outdoor grills use less energy than regular stoves and ovens.
- Think twice before putting an old refrigerator or freezer in the garage or on the porch. Older appliances are less efficient and if placed outside, will have to work even harder to keep food cold on hot days.
- Make sure the door gaskets on freezers and refrigerators fit tightly. If you close the door on a dollar bill and the bill can easily be pulled out, the appliance is wasting energy. If your refrigerator is not frost-free, defrost it regularly.
- Use the right amount of detergent when doing laundry. Using too much detergent may waste energy.
- Install a water-efficient showerhead. It will save water and also save the energy needed to heat the water.”
Receiving your monthly electric bill doesn’t have to be dreadful. Following these energy-efficient tips, along with the use of energy-efficient appliances, will reduce your energy bill drastically. If you find that your energy bill is still high and you can’t pinpoint why, get in touch with Tim Kyle Electric for more information on an electricity audit.
source: Reduce Your Summer Electric Bill
About Tim Kyle Electric
Tim Kyle Electric has been delighting our customers with responsive, trusted and professional electrical services since 1986. We provide residential, commercial and solar power services and are experts in our field. Our team of professionally trained employees uphold our core values of honesty, respect and integrity. We are available 24/7 for your electrical servicing needs. Get in touch with us today to discuss your next electrical project.