7 ways to reduce air conditioning costs

7 Ways That AC Costs Can Be Reduced

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that air conditioning and heating your house accounts for 43 percent of your monthly utility bill. Here are some tips to help you reduce air conditioning costs.

1. Shade Your House

A majority of the heat accumulating inside your home comes from the sun directly shining through the windows or on the roof. One effective thing you can do is plant leafy trees around the exterior of the building to prevent the sun from reaching into your house. If there are shrubs or trees shading your air conditioner, the U.S. Department of Energy reports that the efficiency of your AC unit could receive up to a 10 percent boost.

2. Protect Your Windows

Mesh-like window screens or solar screens, are able to intercept as much as 70 percent of the total solar energy to keep it out of your home. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that window screens are especially effective on west-facing and east-facing windows.

Another option is window films. They are metalized, transparent sheets that reflect heat prior to it going through glass.

However, in order for window films to be able to work, windows have to be shut. Solar screens are able to do double duty. They keep the insects and sun out even when the windows are open.air conditioning

3. When You Are Way Raise the Thermostat

When you are at home, lower the thermostat setting on our air conditioner to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. But allow that number to go up at night to a warmer temperature and also when you are away from home. HVAC experts report that you can save anywhere from 5 to 15 percent on air conditioning costs if you raise your thermostat’s temperature setting whenever you don’t need it to be cooled and when you are away.

4. Use a Fan

Fans really help by circulating air inside your home. Whenever possible, place fans on the upper level of your house and on the lower level open the windows. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that if you are living in a one-story apartment or house, the windows near the fan should be closed and the windows that are far away from the fan should be open, preferably on the windward side of your home.

5. Don’t Use Your Stove

Indoor heat can be reduced by minimizing how much you use your store during the summer. Eat cool salads or use your microwave instead. If you need to boil pasta for a potluck the following day, cook it at night. When you do need to cook, turn on your kitchen exhaust. After taking a hot shower, use our bathroom exhaust fan.

6. Replace your AC

You can potentially cut your overall energy costs in half by getting a new unit to replace your old room air conditioner. Choose a high energy efficiency air condition with a high EER rating.

7. Reduce The Speed of Your AC

Expect for very humid days, your AC fan speed should be set on high. Turn the speed to low on humid days. The slower air movement running through your air conditioning equipment will remove more of the moisture out of the air, which will improve your home’s comfort.