We have already had several days in June with temperatures rising into the 90s with some reports of temps in the low 100s. Those scorching temperatures, and those expected the rest of the summer, could mean higher-than-normal utility bills.
The higher the temperatures climb outdoors the more energy it takes to cool down indoors.
“Air conditioners are typically the most expensive appliance you can run in the summer,” said Jonathan Sergeant, Energy Services Team Lead. “The hotter it gets outside, the harder your A/C has to work to keep it cool inside. Even in the most energy-efficient homes, really hot weather like we’ve been having means your A/C has to run a lot and that means higher-than-normal bills.”
To help you reduce your bill, we offer several tips:
- Set your thermostat on the highest comfortable setting. We recommend 78 degrees. Remember, every degree above 78 will save you about 4% in cooling costs. Every degree below 78 will cost about 4% extra.
- Use a ceiling fan or portable fan to supplement your A/C. Fans are less expensive to run than A/C and can make you feel three to four degrees cooler. When using a fan, you can set your thermostat a few degrees higher and save on cooling costs.
- Remember to turn off your fans when you leave the room. Fans cool people, not rooms.
- If you’re not going to be home for an extended period, raise your thermostat to 80 degrees.
- Clean or change your filters monthly to keep your system running at peak performance.
- Switch your central air conditioning to "auto" for better cooling and humidity control versus keeping the system switched "on" continuously.