With the cooling season well underway in Alabama, you’ll want to reduce cooling costs as much as possible. But how do you accomplish this without turning up the thermostat and tolerating a warmer home? Fortunately, a number of strategies exist for lowering the cost of running the air conditioner all summer long.
Tips to Reduce Cooling Costs
- Install a programmable thermostat. This will allow you to program energy-saving temperatures for periods of time when you’re not home. The thermostat can be programmed to return to a comfortable temperature shortly before you expect to arrive home.
- Use ceiling fans to supplement your air conditioner. A ceiling fan blows air downward, and the moving air provides a cooling effect for anyone feeling it. This makes the room feel three or four degrees cooler than the actual temperature, permitting you to set the thermostat back by that amount.
- Take advantage of cool times of day. If the night and early-morning hours get cool enough, open up windows and let the cool air fill the house. Then, before the day begins heating up, close the windows.
- Seal air leaks in your home’s outer perimeter. Take caulk and expanding foam, and patrol the outside of the house looking for likely spots for air leaks. Pay particular attention to places where utility wires, vents or pipes penetrate the walls, as well as spots where building materials meet, such as the foundation and walls.
- Upgrade to Energy Star. When it’s time to replace an old air conditioner, look for the federal government’s mark of energy efficiency — the Energy Star label.
- Close curtains and shades during sunny afternoons. This keeps solar heat gain from defeating the work of your A/C.
- Don’t use the oven or stove on hot days. As much as possible, cook outside or use the microwave to reduce the amount of heat provided by these appliances.
Learn more about how to reduce cooling costs, as well as Air Conditioning by Luquire’s air conditioner, or give us a call at 334-230-5870.
