6 Tips to Reduce Cooling Costs

6 Tips to Reduce Cooling Costs

In the average home, the biggest energy consumer is the air conditioning unit. They generally account for 16% of the electric bill. In fact, according to a study conducted by Austin Energy, in the hottest regions in the US, air conditioning can consume as much as 60-70% of a household’s electric bill! The only way to reduce the cost of cooling is to scale back your AC usage. As a general rule of thumb, every degree set below 78 degrees on your central AC unit will increase energy usage by about 3%. The obvious downside to scaling back your central AC is that the homes will be slightly warmer. Provided below are cost-saving, easy to implement solutions to cooling your home without having to rely solely on your central AC unit.

1) Install a Window AC Unit

For rooms that you spend a lot of time in, consider installing a window AC unit. The average central AC unit consumes 3500 watts/hour while the average window AC unit uses only 900 watts/hour. This allows you to raise the temperature on the central AC unit while still keeping the rooms you spend the most time in, cool.

2) Use Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans will not decrease the temperature in the room, but the rushing air will make you feel cooler. Furthermore, a 42 inch ceiling fan running on high only uses 75 watts/hour.

3) Use Blinds and Curtains

As sunlight seeps in through your windows, it heats your home. By closing the blinds and curtains, your central AC unit will not have to work as hard to cool your home.

4) Open the Windows at Night

This is self-explanatory: the nighttime air is cooler; use it!

5) Plant a Tree Close to Your Home

A well placed tree can provide shade for your home and reduce the temperature in your home by 3-5 degrees.

6) Drink More Water to Stay Hydrated

By drinking eight ounces of water every hour, your body will feel cooler. Also, adding mint to your water will give you the sensation of feeling cooler; it does not physiologically cool your body temperature, but it can trick your body into thinking that you are cooled and refreshed.

At Nelson’s Heating & Cooling, we want you to be happy, and we know you’re happy when you’re saving money.  This is why we work to educate you on air conditioning solutions so that you can cool your home at a lower cost.  If you want to learn more about the air conditioning products and services we provide, click here.