This post was sponsored by Lasko. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.
10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Air Conditioning in the Summer
1. Open those windows
If there's a breeze outside, take advantage of it! I find that even if the temperature is 76 or 77 degrees outside, a breeze coming through the house can keep it at 72 or 73 degrees, and I don't have to have the air on. And, the smell of the outdoors is refreshing in itself, wouldn't you agree?
2. Use fans
While having the windows open is a great way to save money on air conditioning, consider making your own breeze with fans as well. Sure, they draw electricity, but fans use much less power than air conditioners, and they may be all you need to help stay cool. The air motion over skin helps to evaporate sweat and take body heat off the body as well as cool the space. Along with using ceiling fans, 100% of the time I turn to my Lasko Pedestal fan. It's my go-to because I find that it provides excellent cooling and isn't harsh on the wallet either, a win-win! Our son loves to have a Lasko fan in his room at night, too – he is a hot sleeper and it sure helps, especially having bedrooms on the second floor!
I also love that Lasko fans offer a variety of products to help cool off consumers’ homes without sweating monthly budgets — check them out here. I especially love their price points, very economical!
3. Use landscaping to your benefit
Did you know that a landscape designed to properly shade a home can reduce air-conditioning bills by 15 to 50 percent? It's true. Use shade trees that grow quickly like a willow or maple tree to create shade on the north and west side of your home. Vine-covered trellises, awnings and porch roofs are great ideas to consider as well.
4. Proper Insulation
When you do decide to break down and turn the air on, you'll want to be sure that you prevent cold air from leaking into your attic or crawl space by using a great sealant and wrapping ducts in insulation. There are companies that specialize in this, or use a flashlight at night to see where leaks are.
5. Make sure your appliances are in tip-top shape
Buying energy efficient models are uber-important when you're looking to save on energy bills. Replacing an old refrigerator with an energy-efficient model might be expensive on the front end, but in the long run, they give off much less heat. And your local utility company may offer rebates on new refrigerators, it doesn't hurt to ask!
6. Close and open windows depending on where the air and light is coming from
The less heat that builds up inside our homes, the less we have to rely on air conditioners. When the temperature is bearable outside, you can game the system a little by closing windows and coverings during a certain part of the day and opening them again once the sun has moved to a different part of the house. For example, the sun pounds the windows on the west wide of our home from about 2 until 7, so I have the shades on those windows closed during those hours, but open them once the sun has moved behind our neighbors house and a nice shaded breeze flows through nicely.
7. Turn lights off when not in use
Lightbulbs are hot (like hot to the touch)! Save energy and cool down the house by using natural light and/or LED or CFL lightbulbs where possible.
8. Use a programmable thermostat
Taking the temperature up a degree on your air conditioner can save 3 to 5 percent in cooling costs. That means by setting the temperature five degrees higher, you could save 15 to 25 percent on your energy bills, which can be a big difference! Experiment with setting your temperatures a few degrees higher while you're gone to save a few bucks here and there as well.
9. Replace your filters often
Be sure your systems are running top notch by inspecting, cleaning or replace filters monthly; dirty filters restrict airflow and can cause the system to run longer, increasing energy use, in turn increasing costs.
10. Use your appliances at the most efficient times
Watch the weather forecast and consider doing laundry, ironing and baking for example on the cooler days so you don't heat up the house on what will be the hottest days. This will save you money and energy, too as doing the hotter chores on the hottest days are no fun at all!
I'd love to hear what tips you have on saving money on air conditioning in the summer. How do you stay cool?