X Ways to Beat Summer Heat While Saving On Electricity

Sunny days, beaches, and shaved ice – the fun parts of summer. The not-so-fun part of summer? Intense heat and ACs that drive up electricity bills day and night. Summer is coming up and you won’t want to skip this blog. Below are some of the best ways to beat the summer heat while saving on electricity.

• Replace Your AC Air Filter

The Department of Energy reports that replacing your dirty AC air filter with a new one can save energy consumption by up to 15%. In the summer, your AC is likely running for hours at a time. This simple air filter change can save you big bucks throughout the summer.

• Unplug Appliances That You Aren’t Using

There is a term known as “phantom energy” which steals between 10% and 33% of your electricity each month. It’s when you have appliances plugged into outlets at all times. They consume a bit of energy even when they aren’t in use – and this quickly racks up. If possible, we recommend that you unplug fans, air conditioners, and all your other appliances when they aren’t in use.

• Use Your Thermostat Wisely

You never want your AC to be on full blast the entire time. This will skyrocket energy bills and shorten the lifespan of your AC in the long run. Instead, use your thermostat wisely. Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible. There’s no need to make your home extra chilly. After all, a single degree of extra cooling can increase your energy consumption by 6 to 8 percent.

You’ll also want to keep the temperature higher while people are away from the home, and lower the temperature only when people are at home. This can be done with a smart or programmable thermostat which automatically adjusts to help you save energy.

• Install Blackout Curtains

Compared to regular curtains, blackout ones can prevent almost all external heat and sunlight from penetrating into your home. In fact, blackout curtains can reduce the amount of heat in your home by as much as 24%. These blackout curtains are a must-have if you want to have a cool summer, and they can be used for years to come.