Energy Efficiency & Cost Savings Seasonal HVAC Tips
You want to stay comfortable throughout the long, hot summer months, but you don’t want to break the bank keeping your home cool. Fortunately, there are plenty of energy-saving ways to maintain your comfort and to reduce cooling costs at the same time.
Here, we’ll explore how much you can really save on your energy bills with some DIY energy-saving tips, a room-by-room guide to cutting back energy consumption, and ways you can take advantage of rebates and incentives to save even more.
Over the last 20 years, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that more and more U.S. homes were using some form of air conditioning, peaking at just under 90%. Of those, 66% rely on central AC to keep their home comfortable during the summer. In total, the EIA estimates that around 12% of all home energy expenditures come from cooling systems.
While exact numbers are difficult to pinpoint, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that most households can save around 3% on cooling bills for every degree the thermostat is moved up. So, if your thermostat is typically set at 68 degrees in the summer and you push it up to 72 degrees, you could ultimately save around 12%. On an average summer electricity bill of $178, that would be a savings of over $21, which can really add up over time.
Combine those thermostat settings with other cost-saving measures, and the savings snowball even more. Savvy homeowners can make simple adjustments to bring their utility bills down even lower. So, where do you begin?
The air conditioner can’t run when it’s powered down, so it stands to reason that shutting off your HVAC system would provide the most savings, right? Yes and no. Saving money by shutting your AC off every time you leave the house is, unfortunately, just a myth. That’s because your home heats up quickly without any AC running, which means the cooling system will need to run harder and longer to catch up when you do get home. Ultimately, the AC unit ends up running for about the same length of time, but running it all at once to cool down a very hot home puts a lot of unnecessary strain on the system. This could lead to extra wear and tear on your HVAC system, and a shorter lifespan.
Turning the AC off when you leave is a viable way to save energy if you’re going to be gone for an extended time (think days or weeks). However, be aware that if you live in a very humid climate, that humidity can cause damage if left unchecked. So while you’d be saving on your energy bill, you might come home to unwelcome surprises and other costly issues (like mold and mildew damage).
Ideally, instead of turning the AC off completely, you would make smart adjustments to your thermostat when you aren’t home in order to reduce your energy consumption and save money.
No matter how energy-efficient your AC unit is, what really makes an impact on your utility bill is the temperature at which you keep your home during the summer. The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees when you’re home and awake, increasing to 82 during the overnight hours, and then setting it to 85 when you aren’t going to be home. This balances comfort with lower consumption and subsequent energy savings.
We understand that for many people, the “comfort temperature” of 78 degrees sounds absolutely miserable. We get that! However, before you resign yourself to sweating through another scorching hot day, hear us out. Using ceiling fans in conjunction with a 78 degree thermostat setting will help you cut costs while maintaining your comfort. That’s because ceiling fans don’t cost much to run, but they circulate cool air around the room, making you feel more comfortable. This can be especially helpful if you have a ceiling fan over your bed to help combat those nighttime temperatures.
Once you figure out your optimal indoor temperature and ceiling fan use, you can move on to other simple tactics that can help reduce your summertime energy consumption. Here are the steps you can take starting right away:
All of those great tips are just the start. There are other actions you can take to get that AC bill even lower, by targeting every room in your house:
Cooking in the great outdoors isn’t always a feasible option, but there are ways you can keep your kitchen cooler and cut back on energy usage:
The living room is typically a central location where families gather together. But game nights or movie parties can be pretty miserable if the room is too hot and stuffy. Here’s what you can do to breathe some fresh air into it:
Bedrooms are a sanctuary, but they shouldn’t feel like a sweat shack.Here’s what you can do to stop tossing and turning in the heat and rest easy:
Bathrooms are naturally humid and damp locations. When combined with high temperatures, it’s a recipe for mold and mildew. Here’s how to keep your cool in the bathroom:
Basements are naturally a little cooler than the rest of the house, which could offer you a pleasant escape. But there are ways to keep it even more comfortable, including these:
If it’s time to install a new air conditioner in your home, you can still save money, both at the time of purchase and in the long-term. Choosing an EnergyStar unit is a great first step, but there are also numerous incentives and rebates you can take advantage of:
Most of the tips we’ve listed here can be implemented right away with no special skills or knowledge needed. But there may come a time when you need help from a qualified HVAC technician. If you believe your air conditioner or HVAC system is nearing the end of its lifespan, it’s probably time to make that call. Additionally, you want to reach out to a trusted HVAC professional at least once a year for a regular tuneup to make sure you’re staying on top of your preventive maintenance. Finally, if you notice anything unusual with your air conditioner — like a noticeable unpleasant odor, strange noises, or smoke — it’s time to make the call. An HVAC pro can take a look at your system and make sure everything is in good working order, and can also give you some tips on how to maximize efficiency and energy savings.
Your indoor air shouldn’t be too hot or humid for comfort this summer. The sun’s rays are nice when you’re on vacation, but they can make you wish for an escape when they infiltrate your home. Remember that regular maintenance is one of the smartest steps you can take to keep your HVAC system in good condition and enjoy a comfortable home all year long. Explore our Essential HomeCare packages to find the schedule that works best for your needs. Remember that you don’t need to sweat the small stuff (or those summer temps) when you have Airtron on your side!
