| Photo by Arthur Lambillotte on Unsplash
NEW YORK—(NAPSI)—The heat of summer doesn’t just mean it’s time to drink more water or eat ice cream to stay cool. It also means increased air conditioning and energy to cool your home. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that households are expected to use 3 percent more electricity this summer compared to 2023.
But keeping cool in the summertime doesn’t have to mean sacrificing home energy affordability. Here are some simple energy efficiency steps to help keep monthly power bills down:
Acting Short-Term
Close your window coverings. Ambient sunlight can heat a room, and drawing your curtains and blinds can reduce the sun’s heat in your home and keep your air conditioning from running more than necessary.
Consider rearranging furniture near your thermostat or room air conditioner. Lamps and televisions radiate heat; if they are too close to the thermostat, your air conditioning could run more and longer than necessary to cool a room.
Vacuum your air intake vents and keep them clear. Dust builds up on your home’s air returns, and a vacuum can keep the air flowing for a few minutes. Also, move toys, furniture, and other objects away from the intake vent to keep the air moving.
Replace your air filter. Dirty air filters on central and room air conditioning systems can choke airflow off your home’s ventilation system. Changing your filter as directed by the manufacturer lets air flow freely and helps your air conditioning run more efficiently.
Have your central air conditioner checked. Just like your furnace is serviced and cleaned each fall, your central air conditioning system should be checked before summer. Professionals will comprehensively examine your outside condenser and inside fan to ensure your system works efficiently.
Conserving & Managing Energy Use
Turn up the temperature on your thermostat. The lower you set your air conditioning temperature, the more costly it is to operate. For example, a 75-degree setting costs about 18% more than a 78-degree setting. Don’t compromise your comfort or safety; test how cool you need it.
Run fans with your air conditioning. Oscillating or box fans near your air conditioning vents create an airflow like winter windchills as cold air is circulated throughout the room.
Think twice before starting your oven. Conventional and convection ovens can add extra heat to your home and force your air conditioner to run unnecessarily. Keep the heat outside by using a grill, or if that’s not an option, consider using a microwave or slow cooker to do the job.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs are inefficient and emit more heat than LED bulbs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.
Turn off lights when you’re not using them. It can help save money by reducing your electricity bills, extending the life of your light bulbs, and meaning you buy bulbs less often.
Prep your home when you go on vacation. If you’re planning a road trip or beach vacation, take extra steps, such as turning up your thermostat to prevent your air conditioning from running while no one is home. Unplug electronics with remote control or “instant on” features and save $4 monthly.
Thinking Long-Term
Get a professional energy audit. If you’re income-eligible, you can access no-cost home energy audits through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s EmPower+ Income-Eligible Weatherization Program. Participating contractors will identify if your home would benefit from energy upgrades, such as installing high-efficiency lighting and attic and wall insulation, replacing old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers, and installing water-saving showerheads. For more information, call 1-877-NYSMART (1-877-697-6278) or visit nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/EmPower-New-York-Program.
Consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat. Programmable thermostats let you run your air conditioning on a schedule. Smart thermostats can control your home’s temperature from your mobile device or computer. You can set your schedule, adjust temperatures remotely, and take complete control of your cooling. Smart thermostats could lower your energy bills by up to $180 annually.
Use National Grid’s Budget Plan. Enrolling in a Budget Billing Plan simplifies managing your monthly energy expenses and organizing your household finances. The plan takes the amount you usually pay on your National Grid bills in a year and breaks that amount into twelve balanced monthly payments to help offset the traditionally high winter heating and air conditioning peak bills in the summertime.
Learn More
Check out ngrid.com/ee to learn about residential, multi-family, and commercial energy efficiency programs, then visit ngrid.com/heretohelp for information about payment options and ways to manage energy bills.
–With Jay Domingo
