Tips for Saving Money on Your Summer Energy Bill

Posted on by in Budgeting, Guest Posts, Saving Money & Finances

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Tips for Saving Money on Your Summer Energy Bill We’re coming to the end of April, which means summer is almost here!  This is especially great news if you live anywhere near a beach (like I do).  Unfortunately for some, the change to warmer winds could also signal a more unwelcome change – to much higher energy bills.
That’s because the heightened heat and, in some places, humidity can drive just about anyone to crank up the AC, resulting in an energy bill that threatens to not only break the bank, but also ruin your summer – especially if you’re leaving the air on at full blast all day, every day.
Since we all like to save money – especially in the summertime, when there are so many better things to spend your hard-earned duckets on than a utility bill. Here are some tips courtesy of My Credit Group for saving on your energy bill so you can spend on more important things, like beer and ribs.
Close all the blinds.
Okay, maybe not ALL the blinds – we all like a little sunlight in the house for the natural light.  But having every window open means the sun’s pouring in a lot of heat as well.  Your best bet to beat it?  Keep the blinds of any room in the house not occupied closed.  Sure, the house may be a little darker, but it will also be quite a bit cooler as well, which means you won’t be running the fans quite as often.
Air out your filters.
If you want to make sure your air conditioner is running at its full capacity, and not just using up all the energy in the room, make sure you clean it and any other air filters in the house.  Clean filters improve air filtration, meaning it’ll be easier to get the hot air out.  Experts say you should change your filters annually, to remove any dust and dirt that builds up and traps hot air inside.  You should also regularly clean the drain in your air conditioner to prevent the moisture and dust from turning to mold.
Turn the air off when you aren’t home.
When you’re asleep at night, or out during the day, don’t leave the thermostat on in the name of coming home to a cool house.  The air is cooler at night anyway, so why bother keeping extra cool air circulating at the cost of a paycheck?  As for when you’re out and about during the day, switch the air off and, if it really is hot out that day, run a fan by the air conditioner or vent to help circulate cool air.  You might also want to look into a programmable thermostat to make adjustments even easier.
Do it yourself.
In addition to drawing the blinds in your rooms, you can come up with other ways to provide some shade to home as well.  Anything from adjusting an outdoor umbrella so that it shades your windows from incoming sunlight, to planting a tree that will eventually shade your roof, anything you can do to naturally cool the air in your home without raising your energy bill is welcome.
This is a guest post from Marc Chase, President of Product Development for MyCreditGroup, a leading  credit services company.
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3 Responses to “Tips for Saving Money on Your Summer Energy Bill”

  1. Financial Samurai

    22. Apr, 2011

    The one positive thing about SF is that NO homes have Air conditioners b/c it averages 62 degress here! Just gotta open the windows lol.

    But, we all have heating systems.
    Financial Samurai recently posted..The European Debt Crisis is Still Alive and KickingMy Profile

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  2. krantcents

    22. Apr, 2011

    Living in southern California, A/C is very important! I have a setback thermostat and set it at a high temperature (78 degrees) during the day when no one is home. About an hour before I come home, I set the thermostat at 75 degrees until 9 PM when I generally open the windows. It has a material effect on the utility bill.
    krantcents recently posted..The Problem with Health Care is You!My Profile

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  1. 5 Must Have Home Improvements for Energy Savings - July 20, 2011

    [...] a full blown computer attached to the wall.With these five tips, you can drastically reduce your energy bill this summer.  Your wallet will be a little heavier, your stress will be a little lighter, and you [...]

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