Summer Electric Bill – Save Money and Energy!

Summer time is here and in North Carolina it is HOT! That means cranking the A/C pretty much from April until September and the dreaded super high summer electric bill. My husband is from Cuba and you would think he would love the heat, but he’s actually worse about it than I am! I’m always sneaking the temperature up a few degrees when he’s not looking to try and save a buck or two. 🙂 Even so, since we run the A/C so much, our summer electric bill can get down right outrageous! If you get as fed up as I do about high summer electric bills, these tips are for you!

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Simple Ways to Slash Your Summer Electric Bill

1. Grill outside (or inside!) or cook using your crock pot as much as possible! -Cooking in the oven and on the stove creates a lot of heat which makes your A/C work harder and your electric bill go up! By cooking on the grill or in your crock pot, the heat stays outside or confined to the crock pot. And who couldn’t use another excuse to get outside and enjoy the cooler evenings and time with family?

2. Keep blinds and curtains closed during the day whenever you can. – By all means, you don’t have to live like a recluse in order to save money. But, if you won’t be home anyway or if you aren’t using a room, make sure to keep the blinds and curtains closed to keep out the sun and extra heat. Your A/C won’t have to work as hard to maintain the cool temperature in your house and you will reap the savings on your next summer electric bill! Here are some options for energy-saving blinds and curtains for you to check out to save even more!

3. Keep your A/C set at 78 °F. – You can save up to 5% on your summer electric bill for every degree that you increase your thermostat. If you are comfortable at a temperature above 78°F, you can save even more (about 7 to 10%)! See why I’m always trying to bump up the temperature without my husband noticing?

4. Use fans and ceiling fans in rooms that are occupied.  – Fans help to circulate air and make the room you are in feel cooler! They are a great supplement to your A/C. Try bumping up the thermostat temperature and using a fan to get the most savings from your summer electric bill.

5. Make sure your A/C air filters are clean. – It is reccommended that you change your air filters every three months. Make sure to change them, so your A/C doesn’t have to work harder than necessary!

6. When you leave home, turn the A/C temperature up a few degrees or even turn it off.  – Programmable thermostats, like the Nest Learning Thermostat, are great for this!

7. Make sure the fan setting on your thermostat is set to auto. – If you leave the fan setting on auto it will only kick in when necessary. Leaving the fan in the on setting makes the fan run constantly could cost you around $25 extra a month on your summer electric bill!

8. Make sure to caulk and weather strip any leaky doors or windows. – Make sure the heat isn’t coming in through your windows and doors! This is especially important in drafty older houses. If you have air coming in under your door these draft guards are a great option (and they are lot better looking than the stuffed “snake dog” we used at my house growing up! I’ll let you use your imagination on that one! 🙂 )

Start making these small, simple changes today and you will really be able to a lot of savings on your summer electric bill!