With kids home from school and increased demand for daytime air conditioning, many homeowners in Gonzales, TX, find themselves fearing a sizeable rise in their electricity consumption. Fortunately, there are five easy ways to keep your home energy bill at a modest, manageable level this hot season. With the tips that follow, you can enjoy acceptable levels of home comfort, affordably.
1. Raise Your Thermostat Setting
Raising your thermostat setting by just two to three degrees can have a remarkable impact on your energy bill. Best of all, this will create a minor change in your indoor environment that everyone can easily adapt to. You can save on usage throughout the summer while conditioning everyone’s internal thermostat to be more resilient during times of warm weather.
2. Get Everyone at Home on Board With Your Energy-Saving Goals
Round up your family and have a talk about your energy-saving goals. This way, you don’t have to worry about people leaving windows or doors open while the air conditioner is running or adjusting the thermostat setting without your knowledge. Give your younger children helpful tips for keeping cool on their own, such as by shedding layers, staying hydrated, taking cooler showers, and keeping the blinds or curtains closed during the hottest times of the day. You can also invest in a smart thermostat that will allow you to monitor your ac/heating system and adjust its settings from any location.
3. Use Ceiling Fans
Set your ceiling fans to operate in the counterclockwise setting during summer. This will pull the hot air up and force cool air down, creating a comfortable breeze. With strategic ceiling fan use, most people will hardly notice that you’ve revised your summertime thermostat setting. Just remember to always turn ceiling fans off when leaving a room.
4. Cook Outside
Summer is the time for outdoor cooking. Encourage everyone in the home to reduce the usage of large appliances that utilize heat to cook. These appliances will contribute to the heat in the home, so cutting back will keep the kitchen heat to a minimum.
5. Invest in Blackout Blinds
Make your window treatments an important part of your summer cooling strategy. Low-cost blackout blinds will eliminate the amount of sunshine entering your home as well as the heat that comes with it. Keep your blinds or curtains fully closed throughout the midday, and open them on chilly evenings to let cooler air seep in.
At GVEC Air Conditioning & Heating, we’re all about helping our customers and members save money. With our AC/heating installation and maintenance services, you can make sure your HVAC equipment is fully functioning. We also offer indoor air quality and ductwork services to residents of Gonzales, TX and surrounding areas. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment!