Summertime can make your energy bill pricey, but it doesn’t have to. From June to September, there is almost no doubt that your bill will be at its highest for the year. The cost of air conditioning in the hot Texas summers can account for well over half of your energy bill. At times, it may feel like you have to choose between boiling in the heat or spending a fortune to run your air conditioner comfortably. Thankfully that is not the case with these simple energy-saving tips.
- Switch to LED Lightbulbs
Incandescent lightbulbs are tremendously expensive and 75 to 80% of the energy they use is turned into heat. Creating unnecessary, extra heat during the summer can transform your house into an oven. On the other hand, LED lightbulbs produce almost no heat, use 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer. In addition, LED lightbulbs quickly pay for themselves in energy savings.
- Shut Your Blinds
Just like in a plant nursery, your house is subject to the greenhouse effect of the sun. The southern and western windows in your home will allow most of the heat into your home. Good blinds can shield your home from the suns heat and give your air conditioner a slight break. The northern windows in your home allow virtually no heat, therefore, it is perfectly fine to leave open the blinds for natural lighting.
- Wash on Cold
Washing machines and dishwashers produce an enormous amount of heat. Using cold water and only washing full loads can help generate less heat from these appliances. Undeniably, your clothes dryer produces a lot of unwanted heat, as well. Air drying your clothing halfway before putting them in the dryer can reduce heat from your dryer by 50%.
Although it may sound unappealing, washing your body in cooler water can help reduce your energy costs. Taking a cooler shower creates less work from your water heater, leading to you saving money.
- Replace Your Air Filters
Replacing your air filters is one of the simplest ways to ensure that your air conditioner is running efficiently and at its best. Dirty, dusty filters prevent normal airflow throughout your home and lessens your air conditioner’s heat absorption. Clean filters can lower your air conditioner’s energy usage by 15%. Typically, filters need to be replaced every two months, but with more usage in the Texas summers, ideally, they need to be replaced every month and sometimes every few weeks if you have pets that shed or excessive dust.
Reducing excess heat in your home and using your appliances in the most efficient way are guaranteed to lower your energy usage and your bill. These tips will keep you, your home, and your wallet much cooler this summer.