Post by LuLu on Jun 9, 2011 10:48:17 GMT -5
Tips To Save Money and Keep House Cool
Perform regular maintenance on your air conditioning unit. Replace the filter regularly and have a professional tune up your system each season.
Clear leaves and other debris away from your air conditioner's condensing unit on the outside of your home and hose off any accumulated dirt.
Reduce energy costs and increase comfort with a programmable thermostat.
Keep your thermostat above 78. For each degree the thermostat is raised for a sustained, 8-hour period, you can save 1 to 3 percent in cooling costs.
Close storm windows and doors to keep hot air out and cool air in.
Minimize the use of ovens, stoves, washers, dryers and other major appliances that generate heat inside the home when used.
Make sure your ceiling fan is blowing counter-clockwise in the summer.
Keep in mind that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. If the room is unoccupied, turn off the ceiling fan to save energy.
Close your blinds or curtains to keep sunlight out. The sun's rays will warm your home and cause additional air conditioning use.
Switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, which use up to 75 percent less energy than standard bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
Permanently unplug older, inefficient appliances to avoid unneeded energy consumption.
You electric company has a variety of rebate programs available to customers who chose to complete some of the steps above.
Perform regular maintenance on your air conditioning unit. Replace the filter regularly and have a professional tune up your system each season.
Clear leaves and other debris away from your air conditioner's condensing unit on the outside of your home and hose off any accumulated dirt.
Reduce energy costs and increase comfort with a programmable thermostat.
Keep your thermostat above 78. For each degree the thermostat is raised for a sustained, 8-hour period, you can save 1 to 3 percent in cooling costs.
Close storm windows and doors to keep hot air out and cool air in.
Minimize the use of ovens, stoves, washers, dryers and other major appliances that generate heat inside the home when used.
Make sure your ceiling fan is blowing counter-clockwise in the summer.
Keep in mind that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. If the room is unoccupied, turn off the ceiling fan to save energy.
Close your blinds or curtains to keep sunlight out. The sun's rays will warm your home and cause additional air conditioning use.
Switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, which use up to 75 percent less energy than standard bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
Permanently unplug older, inefficient appliances to avoid unneeded energy consumption.
You electric company has a variety of rebate programs available to customers who chose to complete some of the steps above.