Q: How can I prepare my home for lower energy bills this summer?
Summer is right around the corner. There are many ways to get a jump-start on preventing summertime high bills and energy waste.
Add your cooling equipment to the spring-cleaning checklist. An annual tune-up by an HVAC professional should include refrigerant charge, airflow adjustment, and condenser and evaporator fan-coil cleaning. This helps maximize your system’s efficiency and the life span of your equipment, reducing wasted energy and costs.
Some HVAC companies offer discounts for cleaning equipment during the months when they are less busy. Once high temperatures hit, they are more likely to be swamped with calls to repair or replace broken equipment.
A dirty furnace filter can waste energy by causing your system to work harder. Make sure you have a stack of replacement filters ready to go so you are more likely to replace them as needed.
As we transition to warm weather, keep an eye on your thermostat settings. The United States Department of Energy recommends setting cooling temperatures to 78 degrees when you are home and higher when you are away. You can save as much as 10% every year on heating and cooling by adjusting your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for 8 hours each day.
One way to feel cooler is by using fans in the room you’re in during the day or when you’re sleeping. A fan can make you feel cooler without having to adjust the thermostat. Remember, fans cool people, not rooms; turn off fans in unoccupied areas.
Cooking outdoors in summer is also a great way to save energy. Using the stove or oven heats your kitchen, which requires more energy for cooling. Get the grill cleaned now so you are ready to enjoy outdoor cooking.
Incorporate these tips into your summer prep to save energy and lower your bills.
Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company.
