6 Tips to Decrease Your Energy Bills During Summer

It used to be that when the company directors got together for coffee or beer, they discuss all sorts of topics. Where are you going on vacation? Are you happy with your employees? What's going on with your business? Now they talk over who’s paying what, and more importantly, what they are doing to lower the company bills.

Summer is upon us! But that warm weather we’ve been waiting for all year also comes with substantial surges in our utility bills.

To most people, cooling down a home/office/school during summer means investing in a powerful HVAC system. While HVAC units are also efficient at mediating the excruciating summer heat, they’re known for jacking up the energy bills. 

So figuring out the best way to ventilate your home/office/schools will result in serious savings and a reduction in energy consumption.

1. Turn Off the AC When Not In Use

For the residential houses, turning the AC off while you’re sleeping can result in huge savings. Even adjusting the temperature before leaving the room/office/classroom (assuming nobody will be indoor) will yield savings. In the summer, the thermostat should be set no lower than 25℃ to 27℃. For every degree the thermostat is raised, 4% to 8% can be saved on cooling costs.

2. If outdoor air clean and fresh enough, take Advantage of Natural Ventilation

Even at the height of summer, there will always be days when the weather is a bit favorable. If the outside feels cooler than the inside, you might consider opening your windows. That will bring in cooler air inside and expel warmer air out of your house. 

Opening your window blinds will also eliminate electricity usage, as you then benefit from the natural light. The more light bulbs you turn off, the more you save on electricity. 

3. If outdoor air is not fresh and cool, use mechanical ventilation for fresh air supply and energy-saving.

A mechanical ventilator is a great unit to use alongside your air conditioner. Ventilation is perhaps the single most important element of an HVAC system. It influences air quality and energy efficiency, and proper ventilation controls odors, dilutes gases (such as carbon dioxide), and inhibits the spread of respiratory diseases. Ventilation air is critical in residential houses, offices, and educational facilities.

Energy recovery ventilator is one of the mechanical ventilation devices, it can not only bring outdoor fresh air indoor with high purification, but also save energy with a heat exchanger built inside.

If the climate permits, you can even eliminate air conditioning altogether by solely using an energy recovery ventilator. For example, when the outdoor air is cool and comfortable, the bypass function of the ERV unit can bring the cool and fresh air to the indoor without heat recovery. 

4. Check for thorough home insulation.

Air leakage occurs when air from the outside enters and conditioned air leaves the indoor through cracks and openings. Although you may not notice it, this makes it harder and more expensive for you to ventilate your home/offices/classroom. Reducing the flow of air leaking in and out of is a cost-effective way to cut the price of cooling and maximize the functionality of your air conditioning system. Caulking and weather-stripping are the two most simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns after investing. Caulk is used to filling cracks and openings between stationary and foundational house components, such as around door and window frames, and weather-stripping is used to seal operational components, such as doors and operable windows.

5. Clean the air conditioning vents and mechanical ventilator filters.

In order for an air conditioning unit or energy recovery ventilator to function efficiently, its filters, coils, and fins must be maintained regularly. Simply put: a clean air conditioner or ERV unit is an effective one. The most crucial piece of maintenance that will ensure the maximization of your air conditioner and ERV is routinely replacing or cleaning its filters. Clogged and dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system’s efficiency significantly. Dirt and debris in the unit will obstruct airflow and possibly impair the evaporator/recuperator. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%.

6. Block the sun with blinds and drapes.

Window treatments or coverings don’t just decorate your home/offices, they can also help you save energy. Some carefully selected window treatments can prevent indoor from heating up under the summer sun. There are two options for window treatments: blinds and drapes. When fully pulled down and closed over a window with a lot of sun exposure, blinds can reduce heat gain by up to 45%. During summer days, you can close draperies on windows receiving direct sunlight to prevent heat gain as well. Drapes can reduce heat gain by 33%.

*Source:https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/04/how-to-decrease-your-energy-bills-during-summer/

https://www.smartenergy.com/8-ways-to-lower-your-electricity-bill-this-summer/

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