23 ways to reduce your electricity bill while keeping cooling

Social distancing means that your air conditioning will work stronger than ever this summer.


Coronavirus have countless American stops spend more time at home than ever these days, and that summer heat sets in, as ways to keep air conditioners running for hours in order to stay cool . Unfortunately, heat is often at an extremely high cost; According to the US ENERGY Information AdministrationAir conditioning usually represents 12 percent of home energy costs-OR about $ 265 on average. In some parts of the country, these costs are much higher people pay an average of $ 565 on air conditioning in the southeast hot and wet parts. And withEconomic assembly uncertainties following the pandemic, Many people are wondering how they can save money on air conditioning costs. Fortunately, you do not need to suffer from a canicular summer to save big. Here's how to reduce your electricity bill and always keep cool this summer. And if you want to beat the heat, check these17 Genius Ways to keep your Cooler Room.

1
Invest in a set of opaque blinds or curtains.

gray curtains over sheer panels
Shutterstock / Navintar

One of the simplest ways to save money on your air conditioning costs? Simply swap your current curtains for black window coatings.

"Using high quality occult blinds, heat will not penetrate inside your home andit will be much cooler, "saysBrandi Andrews, Founder and CEO ofNational Air Warehouse. Although this will make your room darker, "your CA will not have to work tirelessly to maintain the ambient freshness," explains Andrews.

2
Install a new insulation.

man installs insulation in attic
Refuge

If your home has little insulation in its walls, or if the insulation all over your home is older, the replacement can be a significant money saver.

"Use the most modern insulation to reduce cooling and heating costs," says Andrews. "Today's products, while more expensive for purchase and installation, are designed to have a positive impact of your monthly long-term invoices. »

3
Invest in a cooler by evaporation.

evaporative cooler blowing cold air
Shutterstock / Mumemories

You do not need to replace your HVAC system to save money on your air conditioning bills-a simple addition to your existing system can save you a lot over the long term.

An evaporative cooler will do wonders for cooling your home, energy expertCisco Devries, A former assistant for the US Secretary of Energy during the Clinton Administration and Chief Executive OfficerOhmconnect. "These are window units that eliminate the heat of the environment using the evaporation of the water to create fresh air," says Devres. And if you want to know if your A / C could be endangering you,The experts are pronounced on spreads that air conditioning coronavirus.

4
Install a fan throughout the house.

whole house fan system
Shutterstock / Carpetner

This ceiling fan in your kitchen can help you feel a little cooler, but a fan enthusiasts can keep your entire space more comfortable all year round.

"The fan is installed in your attic and creates a negative pressure by pulling hot air in your house in the attic. This negative pressure then pulls into the air colder from the outside, the cooling of your home, "explains Devries, who praises these systems for their low cost and easy installation.

5
Create a cool roof.

man painting roof
Shutterstock / JorgeFlorez

A simple way to keep your house cooler without harvesting huge air conditioning bills? Create a "cool roof" by applying a "reflective layer to prevent heat from entering your home", suggests Devres. "They consist of a reflective solar surface to maintain the roof temperature and the house down," he explains. And for more information up to date,Sign up for our daily newsletter.

6
Install high impact windows.

man installing energy efficient windows ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

These vintage charm old windows can, but they leave your air conditioning off and driving your cooling costs.

To avoid this problem, the installation of devices windows suggests strong impact, which "filter the UV rays and prevent the temperature increases when the sun shines through. Notes that these windows are hermetically closed, which makes it harder for hot air to enter your space.

7
Or install reflective film on your existing windows.

man installing reflective film on window ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

Can not afford completely new windows? No problem! Reflective film installation will rather think and absorb between 40 to 60 percent of the heat that tries to enter your home without eliminating any light from your space, according to a Texas Austin expert,Michael BlueJay-What specializes in electricity savings. These reflective panels cost between $ 3 and $ 8 per square foot, but the cost is well worth the savings you will see on your Invoice A / C.

8
Pouch the spaces around windows and doors.

redheaded woman caulking window
Shutterstock / StockFor

This gap around your window or door may seem minor, but it can leave a surprising amount of cold air and allow a lot of hot air.

"Make sure your home is properly sealed on the windows and doors", suggestsDarcy Lee, an interior comfort specialist atAmerican standard heating and air conditioning. This can be done using caulking, weather stripping, or replacing or replacing doors and windows to get a tighter seal. And for more great improvements that will not break the bank, check these27 Amazing Home upgrades for all budgets.

9
Install a radiant barrier in your attic.

radiant barrier in attic ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

Your attic should already have a radiant barrier like the one on which the photo described here. However, if yours lacks this essential component, then it is high time that you get it installed. Why? According to BlueJay, a radiant barrier weapon to your home against the leak of heating and cooling.

By installing this layer on the underside of your roof, you can make sure that no fresh air escapes through the cracks.Reduce your energy consumption From eight to 12%, depending on the solar energy center of Florida. And for more intelligent improvements at home, see these50 smart ways to instantly add value to your home.

10
Turn off the electronics when you do not use them.

person turning off tv ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

Your home is filled with electronics that generates an exorbitant amount of heat. Therefore, to reduce your costs A / C,Air conditioning, heating and refrigeration suggests deactivating periodically your electronics. Similarly, extinguishing the lights of your home when you do not use them can save on energy costs.

11
Keep your fan HVAC on "Auto".

Young black couple sitting on couch and using remote-controlled air conditioner
Shutterstock / Lightfield Studios

According to Indiana Heating and Cooling Company Homeensens, keeping yourHVAC fan on "Auto" Rather than regulate the fan speed yourself, you can actually save you money on your invoice A / C. Why? When defined on Auto, your fan is programmed to operate at the lowest speed and for the least possible time. In addition, homesens promised that the conservation of your HVAC fan on "Auto" will also allow your furnace filter to last longer because there will be no voltage of the constant use.

12
Place your thermostat in a cooling area of ​​your home.

thermostat in cooler part of home ways to bring down a/c bill
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Before you install your next thermostat, make sure you do it in the best possible place: away from all spaces filled with sunlight. According to CNET,Thermostats located near a particularly sunny window Starting an action much more often than they should, unnecessarily raise the invoice A / C unnecessarily. Similarly, you should avoid all your thermostat next to anything else that generates heat, such as televisions, lamps and other devices.

13
Lift the temperature whenever you leave the house.

Woman Setting a Thermostat Weight Loss Advice
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As explains the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), it is not necessary toKeep your home excessively cool While you left. Just turn the temperature from a few degrees when you get out of the fresh environment from your home while saving money on your next Invoice A / C.

14
Get a programmable thermostat.

thermostat ways to bring down a/c bill
Nest

Better yet, you could save yourself timeandMoney by exchanging your old fashioned thermostat for a programmable program of a company like Ecobee, lyrics, nest or lux. With these high-tech devices, you can actually program the thermostat to increase the temperature of your home while you are gone. It's that simple!

15
Do the activities that require the most energy after the night.

woman showering at night ways to bring down a/c bill
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Make your portfolio a favor this summer soaking in the bathtubafter The sun is fixed. When the outside temperature is particularly burning, do activities that generate a lot of heat-shaped cooking,Washing and drying clothesAnd the shower is just making your home warmer. By simply avoiding these activities during the day, you will save money on electricity and prevent yourAir conditioning system To have to work overtime, according to the National Association of Education. And for more cool tips, check40 Effective Tips to sleep better in stifling summer nights.

16
Use your bathroom exhaust lovers while taking showers.

bathroom fan ways to bring down a/c bill
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To keep your bathroom as cool as possible during the summer months, the heating and cooling of the metro in the Minneapolis region, the Minnesota region suggestsExecution of your exhaust fans Every time you take a shower. These fans are the ideal way to ride hot air and moisture from the bathroom because they work to continually provide a cooler airflow without forcing you stealing your A / C.

17
Strategically place fans to Windows.

fan by window ways to bring down a/c bill
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For your home to be cool without accumulating huge air conditioning bills, electrical engineering consultantOlin Latharop suggests putting a fan in a window and pointing it outward - with the face of the fan against the window - to blow hot air from the room. If you use this practice in each room, you can expel the hot air from your home, which keeps it cooler.

18
Keep your ceiling fans.

ceiling fan running ways to bring down a/c bill
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According to the NRDC, the use of a singleceiling fan Can make a room feel up to 10 degrees of cooler while using only 10% of the energy of a central air conditioner.

To get the most out of your ceiling fans, check that they move counterclockwise so that they pull the cold air from the ground and blow it out rather than just circulating the hot air. And as you would with an air conditioner, be sure to turn off the ceiling fan after leaving the room to maintain energy costs.

19
Buy the appropriate air conditioner for each room.

Woman with Air Conditioner ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

To make sure you adequately cool each room in your home while simultaneously saving as much as you can on COS / C costs, the Sylvane appliance company suggestsusing different cooling devices Depending on the square sequence of each room and energy consumption. Choose a less intense window or wall air conditioning units in smaller rooms, while developing larger areas (such as living room and kitchen) with more powerful mini-split systems or laptop air conditioners that are based on the ground.

20
Clean or replace your filters.

cleaning air conditioner filter ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

You can save a little money on your A / C invoice by simply taking the time to clean your air conditioning units. According to the Department of Energy,Erasing a dirty a / c filter Can save anywhere from five to fifteen percent of your energy consumption.

However, some experts warn thatClean your filters during the pandemic can launch coronavirus particles. If your A / C unit is over 10 years old, this could benefit your long-term bank account to simply get a new and more efficient.

21
Make sure nothing blocks the airflow of your A / C.

air conditioner ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

According to BlueJay, an A / C will not work as effectively if it is blocked in one way or another. Therefore, when you eliminate unwanted debris or herbs that could obstruct the airflow surrounding your unit, you warrant that the performance of your A / C is not compromised and therefore costs you more expensive.

22
Switch on fluorescent or LED lights.

led lightbulb ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

While normal lights emit 10% light and 90% heat, compact fluorescent bulbs and LED bulbs do the opposite, yielding about 90% light and 10% heat. The installation of these bright and shiny bulbs around your house could be the key to saving money andhelp the environment. Winner!

23
Open your windows at night.

bedroom window open at night ways to bring down a/c bill
Refuge

During the summer months Bally, the night still tries fresher and more manageable temperatures. So, instead of relying on your A / C at night, enjoy lower temperatures by opening the windows and allowing the nature to cool your space. This crossed ventilation will help circulate the air inside your home without cost you. And for more information to keep you safe, checkThe last 10 hot spot stitches you need to know about.


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