Filed under: With temperatures already inching up into the 80s and beyond, it’s time to start thinking about dragging the air conditioner out of the attic and keeping the house cool. At the same time, energy prices (and, well, prices for everything) keep going up, too. But don’t fret; there are a few easy-to-implement tips that can keep you cool while making your energy bill no sweat.
- Turn up the heat. The temptation to set your thermostat at 60 and forget it is powerful, but consider exerting a bit more of the ‘control’ part in ‘climate control’. The optimum temp for your house should be around 78 degrees – every degree below that adds another 3-4% to the total energy cost for your home.
- Consider the size of your rooms before splurging on a huge air conditioner. Any additional cooling that a large window unit might grant you is going to be wasted on a small room.
- Turn off the AC when you’re not home. Leaving your AC on during the day to save energy is a myth and will actually end up costing your more.
- Consider replacing old window units. The efficiency of today’s window units is exponentially better than the models available fifteen years ago. It may be worth upgrading to save money in the long run. LG air conditioners and other models have the Energy Star logo to let you know they’re energy-friendly.
This summer, stay cool whenever possible. Even if you don’t have an AC unit, ceiling fans and box fans can go a long way toward controlling the temperature in your home.