Easy Ways to Reduce Summer Electric Bills
Now that summer temperatures are heating up,? so are our electric bills.? Some may have increases that mimic a luxury car payment - whew!? BUT, there are ways to minimize those electric bills without breaking the bank.? Before you buy solar panels, listen up.? Small changes can make big impacts, so start small.
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Electric companies may offer an on or off peak power plan; meaning they'll charge you less for using power during "off peak" times.? On peak is a higher per kilowatt charge;? you may have a flat fee that you pay monthly that is based on an analysis of your annual energy usage.? Either way, analyze your electric bill first to understand when you are using the most electricity.? ?How you use? energy dictates what you? pay every month.? Plan to use as much power during off peak times as possible.?
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There are several ways to lower an electric bill during hot summer months without incurring the replacement cost of an expensive HVAC or AC split system.? ?Understanding and being aware of when you use the biggest energy guzzling appliances will help you to change your habits and be aware of the electricity you're using.? You may not think of these, but they are the biggest energy users in your home.?
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We all like air conditioners during hot summer months.? But did you know that you can "super cool" your home during off peak hours?? Two to three hours before your on peak time starts, turn your AC to a cooler temp and prepare to throw on a jacket.? Then during off peak times you can turn your AC off to take advantage of a cooler home and not use higher cost electricity.? ?This tip came from Arizona Public Service, one of the main electric providers in Arizona.? Studies show this saves energy!? ? Also make sure to replace air filters frequently.? Don't use the least expensive type as they allow dirt and allergens into your AC unit.? Rather review labeling to use a MERV 5 or lower to capture that dust and replace these monthly during the summer or winter months, if you're in a cold climate.
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Timers can be added to water heaters to turn them off during daytime hours so you're not heating water during the day when no one is home or the need for hot water is lowest.? If you are replacing a water heater, consider a heat pump water heater.? This water heater will remove hot air from a room to heat the water and exhaust cooler air.? The compressor can be placed in a different room from the water tank.? These have been shown to be more energy efficient than tankless water heaters.
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Don't use both the washer and dryer simultaneously but do use them separately during off peak times.? Running both can have the effect of raising the single kilowatt usage to raise an entire electric bill, but check with your utility provider.? Also, turn on an exhaust fan and close the door to the laundry room to vent hot air and to keep a thermostat from falsely determining that the entire home needs more air conditioning.??
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Make sure that pool pumps are running during an off peak time as well.? When replacing pool pumps, consider a variable speed pool pump to use less energy.? But make sure that the pipes will allow adequate water flow for this type of pool pump.??
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Obviously, your refrigerator is on 24/7, but did you know that an empty refrigerator works harder to keep fewer contents cool than a full refrigerator?? When your refrigerator looks a bit empty, fill it with water bottles or bottles of anything that takes up space.??
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Replace burned out electric bulbs with LED's.? Make sure they have authentic Energy Star labels on the packaging and look for the different levels of brightness versus the space where the bulb will be placed, eg. you might not want a blue- white bulb in your living room where that level of brightness is eye popping!??
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After a year of working to reduce your electric bill, check your year over year consumption to see if your modifications worked.? Contact your electric company to ask if your average monthly bill can be reduced due to lower electricity usage.??
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Lastly, if you want to take your home to the next level of energy and water savings, consider getting an energy audit, aka Home Energy Assessment.? An audit will show you how "leaky"? your home is and how efficient the above components are working. Check out the video below to understand the testing process.?
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When buying or selling a home, consider using a realtor who understands all of these concepts.? Agents with this knowledge and training can market and potentially sell your home for more money.??