Avoiding High Summer Electric Bills

Adjust the thermostat. Lowering a thermostat in winter can save as much as $85 per year. Set the temperature between 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and you could save up to 8 percent on monthly cooling bills. During warmer months, raising the thermostat a few degrees can save money, too.

Be a “fan-atic.” While they don’t replace air conditioners or heat pumps, fans move air and help you feel more comfortable. On milder days, fans can save as much as 60 percent on electric bills. Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.

Regular maintenance is essential. Access Energy Cooperative recommends that members have their HVAC systems serviced annually by a certified technician. This HVAC professional will check your entire system to make sure it runs efficiently, and it will help to extend life of the system and save money.

Look for ENERGY STAR® equipment. When it’s time to replace your cooling system, consider replacing it with an ENERGY STAR®- qualified model. Doing so could reduce your energy costs by as much as 30 percent. Rebates on qualifying ENERGY STAR® appliances may be available, please see page three of this edition of the Highline Headlines, or check out our website at www.accessenergycoop.com for more information.

Bigger isn’t always better. Too often, cooling equipment isn’t sized properly and leads to higher electric bills. A unit that’s too large for your home will not cool evenly and might produce higher humidity indoors. That’s why it is important to talk to energy efficiency experts at Access Energy Cooperative. Call us today to schedule your free energy audit.