5 Unexpected Ways to Save on Cooling Costs

As much as you love your air conditioner on those hot summer days, you don’t love the extra energy costs that raise your electric bill. You don’t have to suffer through the heat to save money. Instead, follow these 5 unexpected ways to save money on cooling costs.

Raise AC Temperature When Away

When you leave the house, turn up the temperature on the AC. The higher the temperature on the AC the less energy required to cool the room to that temperature. Less energy means a lower electric bill. Place the temperature at 85 degrees before you leave home. When you return, your home will feel warm but not sweltering. Turn the temperature back down to 76 and the house will cool down quickly.

Keep Fan Speed Low on Humid Days

Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air. That moisture makes it difficult for your body to sweat properly. You can make your AC do double duty by removing moisture in the air and lowering your electric bill.

How? Simply lower the fan speed on your AC. The slower fan speed pushes air through the room slower but helps to absorb the moisture in the air. Lowered humidity means your body sweats better to keep you cooler. A lower fan speed also requires less energy to save you money.

The Shady Side of the House

When installing an air conditioner in your home, you should place it on the shady side of the house. Shady areas are naturally cooler. When an AC is in a sunny spot, the sun beats down on the system, heating it up, and making it work harder. That means more energy and a higher cost. If you can’t find a shady spot for the AC, then provide the unit with shade with a tarp, special cover, or a planted tree.

Make Use of Ceiling Fans

If your home has a ceiling fan, you can use it to lower energy costs with your AC. Ceiling fans use up much less energy than the AC. The fan might not give off much cool air by itself, but the AC will provide cool air and the fan will help push it around the room.

Save money, by turning up the AC a few degrees and letting the lower energy fan do the work to cool the room down those few degrees.

Choose the Right Size AC

Sometimes bigger isn’t always better. A larger AC unit might be more powerful but is also unnecessary for smaller rooms. If you use a large AC unit for a small room, it will cool down the room very quickly, but you’ll end up paying for extra unnecessary power. A smaller unit will get the job done with a small room and do it with less energy.

All it takes is a few simple steps to save money on cooling costs.

Get expert air conditioning service and advice for your Durham home from Green Horizon One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® at (919) 646-3639!