THE HOME IS THE FASTEST AND BEST PLACE TO CONSERVE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE, COMFORT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSE…

SAVINGS
Use a digital thermostat – $5 a month
Use a Digital Programmable Thermostat - $5 a month
Make sure your attic is ventilated - $5 a month
Fans in the right areas can save you money – $5 a month
Cover your windows - $5 a month

Use a Digital Thermstat: Being precise on your temperature can save you time and money.  During the summer, depending on the size of the dwelling, you can save 3% of cooling costs for every degree you raise your thermostat. For example: moving you thermostat settings from 73 to 78 degrees can make a savings of up to 15% in cooling costs.

Use a Digital Programmable Thermostat: Since you are not always home, use a digital programmable thermostat and set the AC to turn off when you leave and to turn on when you return home. For your comfort, program the thermostat to turn on about 20 minutes before you arrive home.  You can also have the AC unit turn off about 20 minutes before you leave your home, this way you enjoy the cold air that is already in your house and then the AC doesn’t run until you leave cooling the house for another 30 minutes after you have left. Do not program the thermostat to adjust the temperature if you are not away for more than 5 hours, this is inefficient for the AC unit.

Make sure your attic is ventilated: On a hot summers day, your attic can heat up to over 150 degrees. For this reason, you need to consider venting your attic.  Venting your attic will lower the temperature within the attic and in return cool down the rest of your house. See the hot air in your house needs somewhere to go, if the attic is already full it will just sit in your house and collect. Venting you attic will make the AC unit work more efficiently within your home. Instead of cutting in more attic vents, have a contractor replace one or more of your attic vents and replace them with a self-rotating vent fan.  This will suck the hot air out of the attic.  If you want to be a little more efficient, have them install an exhaust fan that runs off a thermostat.

Fans in the right spots can save you money: Another great way to save on cooling costs is to adjust your thermostat to 80 degrees and turn on a few fans.  The AC will bring the house temperature down to 80 and the fan, through airflow and air circulation, will make the house feel 5 degrees lower.  In medium hot days fans can replace the AC but in hot days they can work together to cool the house down.  Electricity for a fan is almost 1/10 the amount of an AC units. Also follow the instructions of the fan on which way the blades need to be turning during the hot time of year.  Circulating the blades the right way means blowing air at you and not pulling it away.

Cover you windows: Make sure you keep the rays of the sun where they belong, outside the house.  Without covering your windows, the suns rays will enter and heat up your house.  Use drapes, blinds, shutters to shield your windows from the sun’s heat.  If you desire more light in the house, use lace drapes to allow the light but limit the heat entering your window. Weather-stripping and caulking around windows and doors can also keep hot air from leaking inside. Also keep the doors and windows closed for better operation of your AC unit.