Besides barbecues, festivals, and bonfires, cold as well as conditioned air during the hot summer months is a must. It is something that helps to make our days much more comfy and pleasant. However, similar to all the good things in life, there also comes a downside. Air-conditioning usage on a regular basis can result in the increment of our household electricity bills significantly. Therefore, it is of prime importance to monitor your AC unit cost at the beginning of the season. Below, we are going to mention some essential guidelines on how to cut down AC costs this summer.
1. Provide your windows with a new lease of life
In case your residence has got old windows, it is highly probable that they are not much energy efficient. It will be possible to minimize the expenses of cooling your house by purchasing new energy-efficient windows. Even though you need to invest some cash up front, they will bring savings in the long run which will help you significantly.
Brand-new Windows come with an energy-efficient coating which will help to minimize the ultraviolet and infrared light which enters your home through the glass. This coating will come of use to you during summer as well as winter. During the cold winter months, the windows will be retaining the indoor heat without allowing it to escape. On the contrary, during the hot summer months, the windows will be responsible for reflecting away the heat thus helping to make the rooms cool effectively. This will help to minimize the burden on your AC unit implying minimized energy bills as well.
2. The windows should be opened for nighttime ventilation
Cross ventilation happens to be a free-of-cost and effortless cooling technique. It will be possible to circulate fresh air within the house by opening one or more windows in your residence. This will help to bring in cool air from outside for replacing the warmer air indoors at night. This process can also be accelerated by using fans.
Here, we like to mention that it will be a good idea not to switch the AC unit on at night in case the windows are opened. In case you leave the windows open, it will pressurize the AC unit leading to additional usage of air conditioners as well as enhanced energy bills. You can turn off your air-conditioning unit and open the windows in case the temperature permits.
3. Seal the windows for air leaks
Windows which are badly sealed are responsible for leaking air. This implies that the air which was cool right now is going to leave the room allowing hot air to enter. This will make your AC unit work much harder for cooling your room and maintaining your room temperature continuously. Sealing crevices or leaks helps to prevent the precious cold air from escaping through the windows thus putting less pressure on the AC unit and saving energy as well.
Prior to sealing all the cracks and leaks in your residence, the initial step will be to find out the openings of the house. Below we have mentioned several of the most typical sources of gaps and leaks in your house:
• Attic entrances
• Plumbing and utility access
• Dropped ceilings
• Window and door frames
• Switches and outlets
• Air ducts
It is important to verify as many areas as possible and capture every single gap.
4. Set up a programmable thermostat
Smart technology aids in deploying smart features which can aid in saving energy in the long run. For example, smart thermostats or smart AC units will enable you to set schedules for the air-conditioning unit or even set intelligent triggers which can help to maintain the temperature of the room successfully. Once the desired temperature has been achieved, the AC unit will be switching off automatically thus helping you to save significantly.
There are many individuals who do not take the burden of adjusting their thermostats during the hot summer months. They set the thermostat to the minimum temperature and leave it like that running throughout the day. According to a recent survey, US residents are able to save 10% every year by adjusting room temperatures by 8 to 10° for approximately 8 hours every day.
This slight readjustment can be done by a programmable thermostat on its own. While you are out of your residence, it will be able to sense, increase the temperature by several degrees, or even turn off the AC unit completely. Furthermore, it will be possible for you to set up a schedule such that the set temperature is increased by the unit by several degrees while you are slumbering and it is lowered back once again when you’re going to wake up.
5. Make use of portable and ceiling fans
It is a fact that ceiling fans help to circulate fresh air, which can take away some burden from the air-conditioner in the long run. Making use of existing ceiling fans or even installing them throughout your house will be an effective way for increasing the energy of your home effectively.
Although ceiling fans can be considered to be low-tech, they can work miracles for keeping the room cool. Apart from minimizing the air-conditioning of the house, a ceiling fan will likewise help to save as much as 40% on electricity expenses.
Portable fans can prove to be an appropriate option as well. You can position them strategically around your house or room or you can also place them near the doors or windows for keeping the room properly ventilated.
However, it is imperative to bear in mind that there is some difference between AC units and fans. Although fans will not be able to make the room cool similar to the air-conditioners, they will help to make the rooms appear fresher as well as cooler by moving the air as well as heat away from your skin. It is a fact that fans are going to use a small fraction of energy as compared to the air-conditioning units, and therefore, they help to save lots of energy in the long run.
