Don’t Let Your Air Conditioner Make You Broke

photo credit: Jan Tik

When the summer heat hits and you just want to cool the house down, the electricity bill that comes with the air conditioning use can be crippling. But there are many ways to keep this bill as low as possible this summer:

• Try to keep direct sunlight out of your house. Close curtains and blinds on the sunny side of the house, even if it makes it a little darker - it’s worth it.
• Keep your air conditioner well maintained. With many systems you should replace the filter monthly during the summer and get a professional start up and shut down service at the start and end of the season.
• Use a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature of your house: allow it to be less cool during the hours when you’re not there, and during the middle of the night.
• When the heat is not too bad, use fans instead to circulate the air and cool you down sufficiently, either using a pedestal fan or if you have them, a ceiling fan.
• Check that other appliances that pump out heat are not still on when not in use: turn off the lights you’re not using and turn off your computer if you’re away from it.

Tags: energy | savings | Utilities