Tips for Beating High Summer Electric Bills
Keep your cool this summer and don’t let the warmer weather turn into “summertime blues” when your monthly electric bill arrives. Here are some energy-saving tips from Covington Electric Cooperative to help you do jus that.
Adjust the thermostat. Raising your thermostat just a few degrees in warmer months can help save money on your power bill. Set the temperature between 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and you could save up to 8 percent on monthly cooling costs. Programmable thermostats make it easy to save by offering pre-programmed settings to regulate a home’s temperature throughout the year, particularly when the home is unoccupied.
Be a “fan-atic.” While fans don’t replace air conditioners or heat pumps, they do move air and help you feel cooler and more comfortable. On milder days, fans can save as much as 60 percent on electric bills. Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.
Regular maintenance is essential. CEC recommends that members have their HVAC systems serviced annually. An HVAC professional will check your entire system to make sure it runs properly. A well-maintained cooling system will run more efficiently, use less energy, and lower energy bills, so clean or replace AC filters monthly or as needed. Also, keep both outdoor and indoor air conditioner coils clean. Dirt build-up on the indoor coil is the single most common cause of poor operating efficiency.
Make a shift. Shift energy-intensive tasks such as laundry and dish washing to off-peak energy demand hours to help increase electricity reliability during heat waves; do full loads when you run washers, dryers, and dishwashers; wash clothes in cold water when possible; clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load.
Keep heat away from the thermostat. Keep lamps and/or TVs away from the air conditioner thermostat. The heat they generate could cause your air conditioner to run longer, running up bills unnecessarily.
Get insulated. Sufficient insulation can increase your comfort and reduce your cooling costs up to 30 percent. Start with the attic – which can exceed temperatures of 115 degrees – followed by exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces. Insulate and seal attic air ducts, too.
Plug energy leaks. Be sure to caulk and add weather stripping to all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. You can save 10 percent or more on energy bills by reducing air leaks.
Choose Energy Star appliances. Cut utility bills by up to 30 percent with air conditioners, major appliances, lighting, and electronics that have the Energy Star label – the government’s symbol for energy efficiency.
Monitor your energy usage. CEC members can better manage their electric accounts and monitor their daily energy usage by using their MyCo-op Account. There are many tools available through MyCo-op Account including; billing history, usage history, service requests, notifications, draft payment options and pay bills online just to name a few. Members can register now by clicking here.