Even in the middle of summer, electricity is something most households have to budget for. Summertime utility bills can be high, especially with an air conditioning unit running to provide comfort for the home’s occupants. Just as taking energy saving measures in the winter time can reduce electricity usage due to heating, there are lots of ways to save money on utilities in the summer time, and reduce the cooling load.
Cool Your Home, Not the Outdoors
Just like in the winter season, sealing up air flow leaks can help reduce energy costs by eliminating drafts where cold air can escape. Window sealant kits can be purchased for a low cost at your local hardware store. Make sure doors are all closed tightly and that windows are shut all of the way during the day. If you have children, make sure they understand the importance of keeping the house sealed.
Be Your Own Smart Thermostat
Open windows at night when it’s cool out in order to allow heat to escape from your home. This passive cooling method makes use of the naturally cooler air outside. When the sun comes up, close the windows and turn on your air conditioner to keep the temperature of the home from heating up. As the outdoor temperatures soar outside, keep as much heat out as possible by drawing blinds and curtains.
Reduce!
Just like in the winter, reducing your energy consumption is easiest to do by simply using less. Did you know that when electronics are plugged in, they draw a small amount of power – even when turned off? This is known as phantom draw and could affect your power bill. Unplug your electronics completely to save energy and reduce phantom draw. Or better yet, connect a bunch of your electronics to a power bar. By pulling a single plug, you can eliminate phantom draw on many electronic devices.
Summer is also a great time to reduce your use of the laundry dryer. With the gorgeous summer sun shining, hanging wet clothes out on a clothesline is a great way to take advantage of the natural drying power of the sun.
Upgrade Your Air Conditioning System
This definitely isn’t a quick fix, but if your old air conditioner is inefficient and costing you money, consider upgrading your system. While there are many high efficiency air conditioners on the market today, none is more efficient than a geothermal heat pump. Geothermal heat pumps are on average 20-30% more efficient than the best air conditioner. They work by removing the heat from the air in your home and depositing it into the earth, while returning the cooled air to your home.
The same process is reversed in the winter, and heat is pumped into the home. Geothermal heat pumps are growing in popularity for cooling in the summer time because of their efficiency and the opportunity to have one machine that performs both heating and cooling.
Staying cool in the summer isn’t easy sometimes and can be hard on the wallet, by following these simple tips, you can stay cool and stay on budget.
Jordann is the Marketing Director at Maritime Geothermal Ltd.