5 Hot Tips to Save on Your Electric Bill This Summer
Temperatures are beginning to rise and the summer season will be here before you know it. Unfortunately, with this rise in temperature comes something a little less pleasant- a rise in electrical costs. With our 5 tips to reduce electrical costs this summer, you can avoid that post-summer shock on your electric bill!
Keep Windows and Doors Closed During the Heat of the Day
It can be first instinct to throw open the windows and doors on an especially hot day for ventilation but this might be a costly mistake.
Before you act, check the temperature. The hottest temperatures of the day can heat up your home’s walls, doing little good for air circulation. When temperatures are lower, opening those windows is a sensible option but the heat of the day may have adverse effects. You might think that using outside air for circulation within your home is a more cost-effective option but circulation of hot air won’t save you money on your summer electric bill.
It is best practice to run air conditioning during the heat of the day, reserving open windows and doors for lower temperatures. If your home is two or more stories, it will be important to make sure both the upstairs and downstairs are open as well. When there’s no wind, cold air will get in from the ground floor and hot air will escape from the upper floor naturally. If you keep these tips in mind, you can effectively save money on your electric bill this summer.
Be Mindful of How Cool You’re Setting Your Air Conditioning
With air conditioning contributing to over 50% of your electric bill in the summer, it’s important that yours is set to a level that is both comfortable and less costly.
If you use central air controlled by a thermostat, it’s a good idea to use a programmable thermostat to regulate your home’s temperature. By setting your thermostat to a higher temperature when your home is empty during the day, you can save yourself a good chunk of change on your electric bill this summer.
To save even more money, you can also give up a few degrees at night- especially on the hottest days. When you’re home during the day, it is best to try to keep the temperature at around 78 degrees to ensure that you’re comfortable while saving the most money.
Make The Switch to LED Bulbs
LED light spend a whopping 75 percent less energy than halogen bulbs. If your home is currently outfitted with halogen bulbs, we’re willing to bet that you can actually feel the heat they emit from time to time.
LED light bulbs also last an average of 5-10 times longer than their halogen counterparts. By switching to LED lighting in your home, you’ll save money on energy and light bulbs. If you’re ready to make the switch upon hearing this, you can check out our article on LED lighting design for your home to get started!
Get Those Ceiling Fans Spinning
Did you know that ceiling fans use 10 percent less of the energy that air conditioning demands? If you’re looking for an alternative to the constant use of your air conditioning, turn your fans on! In doing so, you’ll get cool air circulating through your home without as heavy a dent on your electrical bill this summer.
If you do this even just every now and then, you can save yourself some serious money! If you need a licensed electrician to install or repair ceiling fans in your home, give Right Electrical Services a call today.
Block Out the Sun and Create Insulation
Direct sunlight can be a huge producer of unnecessary heat within your home. This may not seem like much of a problem at face value, but as the summer days draw on, it will be. Without recognizing the source of such unnecessary heat, it’s likely that you will adjust your thermostat to a more comfortable level without much thought. After an entire summer of doing this, your electric bill will suffer immensely.
You can correct this problem by creating insulation and blocking the sun’s rays. So just draw the curtains and blinds, right? Well, yes, but there’s an even better solution. Curtains and blinds will reflect a bit of the sun back out but it won’t block out the heat completely because this is being done from the inside. The better solution is to control the amount of direct light entering your home from the outside instead. By installing an adjustable awning, for example, you can stop the sun’s rays from hitting your windows (and burning a hole in your pocket) outright.
Another viable option is to install roof ventilators in your home. This will draw hot air out of the attic. This is a solution that should be approached with some forethought, though, as this same warm air in attic spaces can be valuable when winter rolls around.
Enjoy Your Summer, Save Money on Your Electric Bill
We hope our tips for how to save on your electric bill this summer can be helpful. As always, if you need electrical services done the “Right” way the first time you can give our licensed electricians a call at any time. Right Electrical Services will be happy to assist you.
Renee Rose
Renee is a freelance copywriter and blogger known for her expertise surrounding topics like marketing, freelancing, mental health, and more. She has written for hundreds of small business websites and is the Marketing Director here at Right Electrical Services, LLC. Renee believes that when a business prioritizes entertaining, engaging, and informational content for their readers, they can expect a loyal following that trusts their company.