Keeping Cool: Tips to Lower Your Energy Bill throughout Spring and Summer
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With warmer weather comes plenty of sunshine, backyard cookouts and warm days and nights. As we all embrace the joys and fun of summer, the heat can make our air-conditioners work overtime and keeping the house comfortable a little more challenging.
āA little bit of planning and some ādo-it-yourselfā changes can help you save energy and reduce your homeās energy bill,ā said Laney Brown, VP of Sustainability, AVANGRID. āApart from the basic things such as turning off lights when you leave a room to advanced energy-efficient technology, there are many ways to help lower your energy bill and make your home comfortable and cool this summer.ā
Here are five easy energy-efficient tips to get you started:
LED Lighting
Did you know that lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of your home energy bill? Swap out your older incandescent lightbulbs for energy-efficient LED lighting. LEDs use 90 percent less energy, and they do not generate heat. They also last up to 25 times longer! Make sure to look for the ENERGY STARĀ® symbol when shopping.
Install a Smart Thermostat
Thermostats have come a long way in recent years. A smart thermostat will give you more control of your homeās environment and offer you the ability to adjust your homeās temperature from a smartphone. The best part? A smart thermostat learns your homeās cooling preferences and will offer you energy-saving tips! Youāll also get detailed energy reports on how much energy youāre using while at home or away.
Close the Curtains, Pull Down the Shades
Abundant sunshine during the summer months can heat up a room and your home. Close the curtains, drapes or shades during the daytime when youāre not home to keep the cool air in and the hot air out. During cooling seasons, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows entersĀ to become heat.Ā Window coverings can help with this energy loss and lowering energy bills.
Replace your Heating & Cooling Unit’s Air Filter
Whether you own or rent your home, make sure you replace the filters in your heating and cooling system every three to six months. A dirty filter makes your system work harder using more energy and adding to the utility bill. Keep it clean and youāll see the savings!
Check for Drafty Windows and Doorways
The air in your home loves to escape through openings or gaps in windows and doorways. Run your hand along your windows or under doors to see if you can feel a draft. If you can, youāve got a leak and itās time to seal it. Some weather stripping or caulking can help you eliminate those leaks and the loss of your homeās cool air.
These tips are easy to do and can help improve the comfort of your home while lowering your utility bill. Many states offer energy efficiency programs for residential customers. For example, our companies in Connecticut are involved with EnergizeCT, Efficiency Maine in Maine and EmPower New York in New York to help customers become more energy efficient.
For more tips, please visit these sites: