According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 43% of our monthly utility bills goes to heating and air conditioning. We are quickly approaching the warm summer months of Arizona. Which means, we are also approaching the months of our highest utility bills with the usual dread we feel at this time of the year.
What can you do to keep your bill low while staying cool at the same time? Here are some tips for simple steps you can take to help control your utility bill during the summer months:
- Set your programmable thermostat at 78 degrees when you are at home but raise the temperature a few degrees when you are not at home and during the hours you sleep. You can see a 5-15% savings per year.
- During the warm months, skip stove-top or oven cooking to remove an indoor heat source. Use your outdoor BBQ grill or the microwave whenever you can.
- As always, keep your air filters clean by replacing them regularly (once a month is ideal).
- If it’s time to replace your older A/C unit, look for a high-energy-efficiency ratio, or EER, or an Energy Star-qualified unit. Higher EER ratings mean a more efficient air conditioner.
- Run your appliances in the evening. Appliances produce heat, which causes your air conditioner to work harder.
- Only use your ceiling fans when you are home. They circulate the air and are more efficient than your air conditioning, but leaving them running all day while you are not at home does not help cool your home. It only adds to your electric bill.
- Close your drapes and shades during the day when the sun is shining.
- Seal the leaks in your home where cool air may be escaping.
- Clean leaves and debris from the area around your outside unit so that it may run as efficiently as possible.
- Install your air conditioning unit in the shade because it uses more energy when it is in direct sunlight.
- If you are purchasing a new air conditioning system, make sure it is the right size for the space you will be cooling (and heating). A system that is larger than you need will translate into higher utility bills.
As you can see, many of these steps are easy to incorporate into your daily life. These simple steps do not infringe on how comfortable you will be and do not take a tremendous amount of effort.
Stay cool and keep your utility bills low this summer!
For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040
Connect With Us at Marlin Services
