Tips to Save on Energy Costs When It Gets Hot Outside

What do you do when the warm season comes and costs to cool your home skyrocket? We all want to be comfortable in our homes, but that can lead to hefty energy bills. We all dread that bill showing up in the mail the next month after running the AC continuously trying to stay cool. It could be $500, $600, or maybe even $1,000 and you didn’t even keep your thermostat that low. Fortunately, we have some effective strategies you can take to beat the heat and save on energy costs. Here are 10 tips to help you stay comfortable while keeping your utility bills in check:

1. Use a Programmable Thermostat: No one wants to adjust the thermostat multiple times during the day to optimize the temperature. Fortunately, programmable thermostats are fairly inexpensive but highly effective way to save on energy costs. A programmable thermostat allows you to set it and forget it. Set the temperature to where you are comfortable during the day when you are at home. If there is a defined time of the day when no one is at home, set it to increase the temperature and then return to the previous level when you return. It may make sense to set the temperature higher at night when the temperature outside drops. There are many options that you can explore to save money with a programmable thermostat.
2. Seal Air Leaks: Leaks around doors and windows can let cool air out and allow warm air to invade your home. Feel around your doors, windows, and other openings like your foundation for air leaks. You can use the tissue test to see if air is coming in. The tissue test is simply holding a tissue around the edges of the window and see if you see any movement in the tissue. If you find any air flow, seal the gaps with weather stripping, caulking or spray foam to prevent cool air from escaping and the hot air from entering.
3. Utilize Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans are a great way to circulate air and create a wind to cool you down. A fan can make your home feel cooler without lowering the thermostat. Most of the time you want to adjust the fan to pull the warm air up and away from the living space during the warmer months and blow down in the cooler months.
4. Close Blinds and Curtains: This may make the biggest difference for your bills. Although we all love seeing the sun come beaming in through our windows, it brings with it a radiating effect increasing the temperature. If you keep your blinds and curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day, you can prevent the sun from warming the home.
5. Ventilate Your Home: Use natural ventilation strategies such as opening windows and using a whole house fan to draw cool air indoors during cooler times of the day, like early morning and late evening. The cool air helps to keep the home cooler during the day by utilizing the cooler nighttime temperatures. A whole house fan runs at a fraction of the cost of the central ac system. The more you can utilize this method, the more you will save.
6. Insulate Your Home: Proper insulation in walls, floors, and attics helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature year-round. Good insulation prevents cool air from escaping and reduces the workload on your cooling system. Check the depth of the insulation and adjust based upon local codes in your area. According to the EPA, “homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists.”
7. Install Window Tint: Reflective window film can reduce solar heat gain by blocking ultraviolet (UV) rays and infrared radiation. If you don’t want to install tint on the whole house, then consider installing the tint on the windows that are exposed to the sun for the longest part of the day.
8. Use Energy-Efficient Appliances: When possible, use energy-efficient appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers. These appliances consume less energy and generate less heat compared to older models.
9. Cook During the Cooler Parts of the Day: A stove or oven can put off a large amount of heat. Use these sparingly on hot days. Consider using a microwave, slow cooker, or outdoor grill to minimize heat buildup inside your home.
10. Lower the Humidity: When humidity in the home is high (generally above 60%), it can make the home feel warmer than the temperature shown on the thermostat. One of the reasons a home can have high humidity is that it is poorly insulated. If the humidity is high take steps to bring the insulation up to code or add a whole house dehumidifier.

When the temperatures outside start to go up, we tend to lower the temperatures in our homes leading to high energy bills. By implementing these 10 tips you can save a lot of money when the temperatures start to head north. We all want a comfortable home, and you can have this without paying a fortune for your energy bills during the hot weather. Stay cool and save on energy costs during spring and summer!