Make your air conditioning dollars go farther
Make your air conditioning dollars go farther this
summer.When temperatures rise outside, it's natural to seek
cool shelter indoors. For many people, that means flipping on the air
conditioning unit and taking it easy. Keeping the air cool is more than a luxury
for some families; elderly parents and young children cannot tolerate
excessively high temperatures. However, the need for air conditioning puts many
families at financial risk. A pricey combination of rising fuel costs and high
electrical demand make summertime electric bills hard to manage. According to Energy Star, the American family pays nearly $1,000 a year on heating and cooling their homes; that figure is above other electrical costs! You don't have to risk exposing your loved ones to brutal heat to save money. Take advantage of some money-saving tips and beat the summer heat.
-- Help circulate cool air through the home by placing
an oscillating fan in family rooms, like a living room or dining room.
-- Keep the
temperature at constant temperature and avoid dropping the thermostat too low.
Lowering the temperature costs you money and won't cool the home any faster.
-- Raise the thermostat 2 to 3 degrees before you leave
for work if no one will be home. The energy experts at APS say that moving the temperature up 5 degrees for eight
hours a day can save you $3 to $5 a month.
-- Install a whole house fan system. Whole house fans
pull the hot attic air out of the home and keeps the air circulating, giving
your home a cooling effect. This move could chill your home by a few degrees.
-- Replace old air conditioning units. If your window
unit is a decade old, it needs to be replaced with an energy efficient unit. If
your home has central AC, have the thermostat calibrated and the system charged
yearly. APS says
homeowners should replace their older SEER units (Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Ratio) to save energy bucks. Replacing a unit with a SEER rating of 10 with one
that has an 18 SEER rating you could save up to 50% on your AC costs annually.
-- Change the air conditioning filters regularly; once
a month is suitable. Good air flow across the filter will cut down on cooling
costs and stop allergens from floating around your home. FPL
Energy Services say that air filters cost between $10 and $25 a piece, but
replacing them can save you 5 to 15 percent on your monthly bill.
-- Hang insulated curtains in your windows. Sheer
curtains look nice, but they don't provide any barrier between you and the
outdoor heat. Keep windows covered during hot afternoons.
Also, do a walk through of your home while the air is
on. Check for leaks around windows and doors. Sometimes your energy dollars
simply float out the window!
For more money-saving tips on your utility bills, watch this:
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