1. Set Your Thermostat to a Reasonably Good Temperature
Before setting your thermostat to 72 degrees because that’s room temperature, keep in mind that we tend to dress in lighter clothes during the summer. Try slowly raising the temperature in the range of 73 to 79 degrees to see what’s comfortable for your house.
The U.S. Department of Energy specifies 78 degrees as the ideal compromise—cool enough and saving you money. Every degree you go up from 72 saves you three to five percent on your air conditioning energy costs.
2. Switch to a Smart Thermostat
You can program a smart thermostat to raise the temperature ten degrees during the day when everyone is at work and then lower it 30 minutes before the first person returns home. Some smart thermostats have even more advanced features to help you truly optimize the temperature setting to save you the most money.
3. Upgrade Your Insulation
The better your home is insulated, the less your HVAC system will need to run to maintain the temperature. The first place to check for sufficient insulation in your attic.
4. Replace Older Air Conditioning Units with Energy-Efficient Models
Just like newer furnaces, today’s air conditioners really do work much more efficiently than older ones. If you fear you’re paying too much to keep your house cool, it would be worth asking an HVAC salesperson about your options.
5. Call an HVAC Technician to Tune-Up Your Air Conditioning Unit
Regular inspection and maintenance is vital to keeping your air conditioner working at its best. If you suspect that it’s not cooling properly, a technician will be able to determine whether there’s a problem other than it’s a really hot summer.
Follow these tips and you’ll save money while keeping your house reasonably cool this summer.
