August is always one of our hottest months in the Tri-Cities. As temperatures rise, your cooling costs can too. We want you to stay as comfortable as possible without breaking the bank. Here are some tips to keep your energy use down this summer.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats help keep your home at a constant temperature. Moving the thermostat drastically up or down, can cause your system to work harder, increasing energy use.
- Speaking of thermostats…picking the right temperature for everyone in the home can be a challenge. The recommendation is to set the thermostat to the highest comfortable setting. The Department of Energy recommends a temperature of 78 degrees in the summer. If you think this is too hot, but want to increase the temperature to save energy – try setting your thermostat up one degree at a time and allowing your body to acclimate for a few days. You can keep doing this until you reach the desired temperature.
- Be sure to keep your cooling system maintained. Routinely replace or clean your air filters. This can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5 – 15%.
- We usually start making dinner at the hottest time of the day. One way to keep your home cool indoors is to grill outdoors. Not only can you prepare a delicious meal on your BBQ – you can enjoy it in a cool house!
- On the same note as not using your oven; try not to use your dryer during the warmest times of the day and switch your dishwasher to a cool dry setting.
- And lastly, if you don’t already have them, invest in some thermal blinds or curtains. They really do work to shield your home from heat radiating in through windows and sliding glass doors. Be sure to keep them closed during the hottest times of the day.