We’re deep into the hot summer months. Air conditioners across the country are doing overtime keeping our homes and businesses cool and comfortable and keeping the heat outside. Unfortunately, it won’t be that much longer before we’re turning on the heat and repelling the cold of winter. All of that comfortable air, hot or cold, comes with a cost. Sometimes you’ve got to do what you can to find whatever energy savings you can.
Here in the northlands of North Dakota, we’ve got plenty of options for powering our air conditioners and furnaces. Predominately, we use natural gas for heat and electricity for the air conditioning, but also have options for dual gas/electricity appliances. Our house uses electricity for AC and gas for the furnace.
Adjust the temperature
Adjusting the temperature on the thermostat a few degrees can reduce the amount of time that the air conditioner runs in the summer or the furnace runs in the winter. Turn the thermostat up a few degrees in the summer and use some small fans to help move the air around to adjust the comfort level. Do the opposite in the winter. Turn the thermostat down a few degrees and use blankets and heavier clothing to help adjust your comfort level.
Invest in thermal shades
Even if you have a really efficient home, you’ll still lose thermal mass. And the biggest culprit for that is your windows. Investing in thermal shades and blinds can help keep the heat out in the summer and the cold out in the winter. They’re more expensive, but unless you’re redecorating your house every year, they’ll last years and make up for the added cost in energy savings.
Program your energy savings
Does it matter to you if your house stays nice and cool during the summer while your at work? Or nice and warm in the winter? If we’re honest, we really only want our house warm or cold when we’re there. If the house is empty for 8 hours or more a day, there’s really no reason to waste all that energy while we’re gone. Buying and installing a programmable thermostat is the best way to be able to adjust the temperature while your away and still assure that your house is comfortable when you return for the day. Set a schedule to adjust the temperature up or down by 5-10 degrees while your out of the house (or sleeping) and to return to your “comfortable” temperature just before you return home.
Spread the cost out
Once you’ve maximized the full energy savings potential, you still won’t be left without any energy costs. There’s still going to be a bill showing up each month that will need paying. If you’ve got one energy supply feeding your air conditioner in the summer and another feeding your furnace in the winter, like I do, chances are your bills will spike during the hottest and coldest months of the year. Most utilities will have some sort of payment system that will allow for you to pay an even amount each month. We’ve got both our electricity and gas accounts on such a program. We pay a relatively flat rate each month to each utility, and avoid paying large bills during the extremes of the seasons.
What other ways do you employ to create energy savings for your household or business?
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I definitely have been working my ceiling and portable fans to the max. If I’m going to be in the house during the day I give myself a choice: Do you want the shades open (to let in light/not be a vampire) or do I want to have the ac on? To run the ac and have blinds open is crazy and you’re just wasting money at that point.
Even just closing “normal” shades will help. Keep the sun out, keep the cool in. 🙂
A few years ago we replaced our furnace — the one that was there when we bought the house was a beast of a machine that was probably about 40 years old….ran good…but it was a hog! Switched to an energy efficient model, got an immediate tax credit and residual monthly savings.
Also installed energy efficient shower heads
I actually refuse to use the budget billing, which allows us to pay the same every month, because them I am aware of the action which cause the increase and can fight against it right then and there. We do, however, put the same amount away each month ourselves in the low months so we can pay high months.
I like to keep my AC on but at a higher temperature. Then I use a smaller personal fan to target areas which might be too hot. That way I can control my immediate temperature without changing the temperature of the whole house.
We purchased the “black out” blinds that are supposed to keep the heat and or air inside depending on the season. They were not too expensive. I have not really noticed a difference, but I like that they are very thick and do not let the light in.
Someone else mentions blackout lights, I use them and they cool the room so much better. Its so nice, Saves a lot of electricity!
I forget the numbers but there are actual studies done that let you know just how much 1 degree on your thermostat can save/cost you. The results are incredible. Everyone should have a programmable thermostat so you’re not cooling/heating an empty house while you’re at work.
Jay
If you’re in one of the states with consumer electricity choice, you can potentially save significantly by switching electricity plans. You need to do this relatively frequently to get the best rates. If you live in Illinois or Texas, Energy Simply http://www.EnergySimp.ly/ offers a service to automatically switch you so you’re always getting the best rates.