Summer is coming, and it brings those big energy bills no one likes to deal with. If you want things to be different this time, you’ll have to get proactive and figure out how to lower your energy bills. The following are five tips you can consider that should make it easier to pay less this summer.
- Dealing With Cracks
Cracks or gaps around the house could be the reason those energy bills are so high. Your air conditioner works hard to keep your home cool during the dog days of summer, but gaps or cracks could make it easy for cooled air to escape. The cooled air from your AC is supposed to stay trapped inside your house, but if you’ve got any issues, the treated air is going to go away faster than it should. This means your AC is going to have to turn back on prematurely to continue to cool your home. This is one reason your energy bill gets high sometimes, but fixing these issues is cheap, so that’s a good thing. Have your home inspected to see what needs to be fixed.
- Opt for Heat Reduction
When the sun is out, it heats your roof. That raises the temperature throughout the rest of your house. To beat the heat, consider installing a reflective barrier. A radiant barrier helps keep your home cool in the summer by blocking the heat. When the heat gets into your home, it gets trapped and stays in there for some time. This barrier will prevent that from happening by reducing the amount of heat that comes in. This can save you money on energy bills.
- Working Shade as Much as Possible
It may sound too good to be true, but if you close your blinds, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor. Being in darkness and blocking as much sunlight as you can makes your place much cooler. Those who have the time might even want to consider planting large bushes and trees that could shield your house from all that sunlight. If you could invest in blackout curtains, then do that. Keep in mind that using these types of blinds or curtains could also protect your furniture and other surfaces. Too much sunlight exposure can easily discolor things, sometimes even damage surfaces or furniture, which is just a bonus.
- Updating Your AC System
Sometimes, the reason an air conditioning system is working so hard is that it’s no longer working as well as it should. If you know your AC has been with you for a long time, then consider inspecting it to see if it’s time to replace it. If you have to replace it, be sure to consider an energy-efficient appliance. That should help you save money but keep your home as comfortable as possible. Replacing your AC will cost a good chunk of money, but if it’s necessary, it’ll be good for you in the long run. Make sure you do your research before you make your decision so that you know you’re getting the right appliance.
- Installing a Solar Panel System
Those who have the time and money may want to consider solar panels. Even if they don’t cover the entire amount of electricity you’re going to need over the summer, they’ll cover enough to reduce your energy bill. Talk to a solar panel specialist to find out how many panels you’ll need to cover your energy needs. You may be surprised by how much you save. If you get this right, you could eliminate your energy bills, but to do that, you’ll have to cut energy usage, so that part is up to you. Installation doesn’t take too long, and you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint, so you’re winning in more ways than one.
Hopefully, these tips make it easy to reduce your energy bills this summer. You can talk to a power specialist from your energy company to see if they’ve got some additional suggestions for you.
