What comes to mind when you think of summer?
There are many things to love about summer. Backyard barbeques, trips to the Jersey shore, campfires, firework shows, and much more. There’s something for everyone to love about the season.
But, what about high utility bills? Do you think about saving money on energy bills?
One thing we can all agree on is that we don’t love seeing our energy bill increase. During the summer, we all often use a lot of energy to keep our home comfortable. However, this can take a toll on our wallets.
We’re not just electricians here at Dream Team. We’re homeowners too, so we understand the frustrations of high-energy bills. We hate it ourselves.
To help our local homeowners, we put together a list of helpful energy and electrical tips to help you save money this summer.
Let’s take a look at 5 electrical tips to save money this summer. Some, if not all of these tips you can do today.
#1 Use Your Thermostat Efficiently
After a long day out in the sun, it feels amazing to blast the A/C. While doing so will definitely make you more comfortable, this could make your utility bills skyrocket.
You can reduce your energy usage and electric bill by setting your thermostat as high as comfortably possible during the summer months. The ideal thermostat temperature is 78 degrees when people are at home, and 85 degrees when you are away.
If you’re one of those people who needs the A/C temperature to be set to Sub 70 degrees, this could take some getting used to. We’re speaking from experience!
I Have an Infant. What is the Best Temperature to Set My Thermostat?
If you have an infant at home, thermostat settings a bit different.
Setting the ideal temperature for your infant may take some trial and error. It’ll depend on your baby’s mood, health, age, and a few other factors. However, it’s recommended your room temperature does not go below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, nor above 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
#2 Make Use of Your Fans
A great way to cut down on cooling costs in the summer is by using fans.
Ceiling fans are a great and easy way to circulate cool air around your home. You can also use portable or floor fans to cool down your home. Having a few of these around the home is a great way to lessen how much you rely on your air conditioning system.
If you don’t have a ceiling fan in a particular room in your home, give our electricians a call. We can install ceilings fan in any room you’d like.
#3 Clean or Replace Air Conditioning Filters
Changing your air filters is a must! Don’t’ slack on this one.
According to the Department of Energy, replacing dirty air filters can reduce your energy consumption as much as 15%.
Ideally, you should change your home’s air filters at least once every 3 months. A dirty air filter can make your air conditioning unit work harder.
If you notice the air filter is getting dirty, make sure you replace it as soon as possible. This will help decrease your electric bill tremendously.
#4 Use Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Energy-efficient light bulbs use less energy and also produce 75% less heat than regular lightbulbs.
Contrary to traditional incandescents lightbulbs, energy-efficient lightbulbs last 3- 25 times longer.
Furthermore, you can get creative with your lighting. Today’s energy-efficient bulbs are available in a variety of colors and brightness levels.
When you’re not in a particular room, make sure you flick those switches off. You hear that, kids?!
During the day, try leaving the lights off and using the natural sunlight to keep your home bright. In the summertime, we average 12 or more hours of sunlight. Take advantage of that.
Just by turning off your lights when you’re not in a particular room can have a significant impact when it comes to lowering your energy bill.
#5 Take Your Cooking Outside
It’s been a long day at work, and now you’re dripping sweat cooking dinner in a hot kitchen. Not fun.
Trying to cook inside during the summer heat can be unbearable.
Counter this by using an outdoor grill as much as possible. The indoor stove or oven can raise the temperature of your kitchen up to 10 degrees.
If cooking on an outdoor grill isn’t an option, use a microwave oven when possible to help keep the temperature inside your home in check. Any pressure you can take off yourself to use your stove or oven less will help.
Save Money on Energy Bills This Summer
As a homeowner, you know the little things can add up. This is why doing simple things to save energy can make a huge difference on your electric bills.
- Use your thermostat efficiently.
- Make use of your fans as much as possible.
- Clean or replace your air filters on a regular basis.
- Get energy-efficient lightbulbs.
- And, take your cooking outdoors if possible.
At Dream Team, we provide an array of licensed residential and commercial electrical services to help save you energy and money.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit from one of our electricians, give us a call today.