THE TOP 5 ENERGY SAVING TIPS FOR SUMMER

Summer in Phoenix can be a stressful time for homeowners. In addition to soaring temperatures, the kids may be home more often with school out, you may be entertaining more or you may find that the heat puts a strain on more appliances than just your air conditioner. So what’s a Phoenix-area homeowner to do? From using ceiling fans and cleaning air filters, to finding the best temperature to set the thermostat in Summer, here are our top 5 energy saving tips for the summer!

HOW CAN I LOWER MY ELECTRIC BILL IN THE SUMMER?

1. TAKE STOCK OF ALL OF YOUR APPLIANCES AND UTILITIES

While Phoenix area residents understandably think of their air conditioner first when seeking energy saving tips for summer (your air conditioner is the top energy user in your home, after all), to truly maximize savings, homeowners need to also be conscious of how much they use their other appliances as well. Doing laundry on off-peak hours and reconsidering the extra refrigerator in the garage is just a couple of examples.

The swimming pool is the second largest energy user in most Phoenix residences, but luckily, simply running the filter overnight is an energy saving tip that can result in significant savings and decreased energy consumption.

2. USE YOUR CEILING FANS APPROPRIATELY

One of our top energy saving tips for summer is to make sure you are properly utilizing your ceiling fans – and be sure other members of your family are as well. If you or someone else in the household feels a little warm, be sure fans are turned on and spinning counterclockwise (for optimal cooling) before anyone thinks about touching the thermostat.

3. CLEAN AIR FILTERS ARE A MUST

Keep your air filters clean and be prepared to change them more frequently than normal during summer months. Because you are likely using your HVAC system far more often, it is only logical that filters will become dirty and clogged that much more frequently. A clean air filter is critical to an efficiently running air conditioner and another practical energy saving tip – the cost of additional filters will be more than made up for when you see the difference in your utility bills.

4. SET YOUR THERMOSTAT CORRECTLY BASED ON YOUR SCHEDULE

In terms of energy saving tips for summer, this may be one of the ones that stump people often. With all of the conflicting information about the best temperature to set the thermostat in summer, there is some uncertainty. While you will want to let your air conditioner keep your house at a steady temperature while you are home, it is a good idea to set it about four degrees warmer while you are away for any significant length of time. But, because life can be unpredictable, many people understandably forget to adjust their thermostat in this way and lose out on all of the benefits of this energy saving tip.

If you have a fairly consistent schedule, programmable thermostats can be a lifesaver. You can set your thermostat to adjust automatically based on the time of day and the day of the week.

How does it work? The programmable thermostat starts by having you figure out the best temperature to set the thermostat in the summer. Once learning about the ideal temperature in your home, the thermostat will stick to it when needed, and lowering or raising it when not needed. For the more high-tech crowd, there are numerous thermostat options that interact with your mobile device so that you can adjust the thermostat after you have already left your home and even begin cooling it back down when you know you will be home soon. Furthermore, these thermostats can result in significant energy savings in the summer because they adapt to your habits and the weather.

Additionally, make sure that you have the correct fan setting to make the most of our energy saving tips for summer. Instead of leaving it on the “On” setting all of the time, keep it on “Auto” or, even better, “Circulate” if you have a newer thermostat and that is an option. Lastly, no air conditioner can be expected to work efficiently if it is not properly maintained and the correct size for the home.

5. THE BEST TEMPERATURE TO SET YOUR THERMOSTAT FOR THE SUMMER

The best temperature to set your thermostat in the summer is entirely dependent on you and your preferences. Because this is an article about energy saving tips for summer, we will assume that your priority is keeping within your budget. But with temperatures soaring over the 100° mark routinely over the course of Phoenix summers, it is not practical to think that your utility bill will not increase at all.

Consider the temperature you currently feel comfortable at and move the temperature on your thermostat up a couple of degrees every few days. Not only will you be conditioning yourself to be comfortable at higher temperatures, but you will also find that even warmer temperatures still feel relatively cool as the thermometer begins its upswing in the outdoors. Consistently setting your thermostat to even just a few degrees warmer than you normally would can yield huge dividends in the form of lower energy costs and is one of our top energy saving tips for summer. What’s the bottom-line? This means that The best temperature to set your thermostat in the summer is always changing. Figuring out what you are comfortable with and playing around with it is key to getting a comfortable home environment while also keeping your wallet full!

If you have not already, consider a Donley Home Energy Audit. Our professional will conduct a multi-point inspection to make specific recommendations and give you personalized energy saving tips based on a variety of factor such as your equipment, how many people live in your home, how long you are home during the day and what your average thermostat setting is.