Sure, you may be tempted to turn that AC on full blast during the summer time, but that can run up your energy bills faster than that sweat is starting on your brow. And no one wants high energy bills when you’re trying to keep a budget, right?
That’s why there are plenty of ways that you can save energy through your air conditioning units. Whether you’re working with any provider, the below tips are going to save you energy (and money!) in the long-run. Read on to learn more.
1. Run Your AC Less at Night
This is one of the top tips to save energy when it comes to your air conditioning unit. If you’re running your AC on high blast at night time, you’re wasting your precious dollars every minute. Sure, on some nights, you just need some extra cooling power. But, what about opening your windows to let some fresh air in – instead of turning on the AC?
At night, the air is much cooler anyways, so why not use that to your advantage? Your energy bills are going to thank you a lot for that.
2. Use Window or Portable Units
Did you know that window or portable units are going to save you a lot of energy in the long-run, when compared to units that cool your whole home? If you’re not needing cool air running through your entire home, then it might be a good idea to get some of these units for the rooms you do need cool air in. Plus, they’re way more cost effective than those huge central air conditioning units.
3. Close Off Some Vents
Here’s a little science refresher. Cool air falls and hot air rises – that means that you can easily shut off the vents in your basement or lower levels of your home and keep the vents open in the higher levels. This is a great way to save some money on your energy bills by using the flow of air to your advantage!
4. Get Your Unit Serviced Regularly
If you’re not getting your air conditioning unit serviced and checked out regularly, then you’re not following the number one rule in unit maintenance. Without regular servicing, you could be dealing with a unit that’s pretty inefficient when it comes to energy usage. Make sure you schedule regular appointments with an air conditioning technician so you can make sure everything is going according to plan.
5. Check Out Those Ducts
Ensure that the areas that air is flowing through your house like the ducts are properly insulated. Air duct cleaning will ensure that the air is not seeping out and being wasted throughout your house. You don’t want to be paying for tons of energy costs when half of your air is being wasted on its way to your room, now do you?
6. Try Out 78 Degrees
It’s a good idea to test out 78 degrees if you’re looking for the optimal level for your air conditioning unit to perform at. Try it out for a couple of days and nights to see how it works for your home, but generally, this is the level at which your AC is going to be using its energy most efficiently.
7. Work on Your Lighting
You may not think about the effect that lighting has on your home’s temperature, but it’s so important. And could be costing you a lot when it comes to your energy bills. If there are any areas of your home that are getting a ton of sun during the day, which increases the temperature and causes your AC to work harder, think of ways you can decrease that sunlight. For example, you can plant a tree outside of the window to provide more natural shade during the summer time.
You may think that there’s no easy ways to get your energy costs down when it comes to your air conditioning. However, that’s just not true, as exhibited above. There are plenty of ways you can reduce your air conditioning costs and save that money for more useful things!
