How to Save Money on your Electricity Bill in the Summer

We all want to save costs when we can and by following our top tips you can reduce your electricity bill during the hot summer months.

1. Using air conditioning units increases our energy bills, so lower costs by ensuring that your air conditioning unit is well maintained and operating at an optimum level.
2. Consider installing energy efficient windows and doors which will keep the summer heat outdoors and the internal temperature much cooler in summer and keep the cold winter weather out and your home cozy in the colder months.
3. Replace old appliances with more energy efficient models, keeping your running costs to a minimum.

However, some of us can’t make these investments so we have drawn up a list of low cost ways to reduce your energy consumption in the hot summer months:

1. 1. Choose heavy curtains that block and reflect the heat of the sun. In the summer they will help keep your home cool, and in the cold winter they will act as a barrier to keep heat in. Think of a greenhouse to understand why windows are one of the primary ways to heat up our homes. If the cost of new curtains for every room is prohibitive choose the rooms that get most sunlight and cover them up.
   2. Some air conditioners have an energy saving mode. This keeps your home cool without using too much power. By turning it on and off you are going to use more power as the home will heat up and need more power to cool it down again. Keep your unit on low when you are out to save money.

1. Heat rises. So, if you spend most of your time on the ground floor keep the doors upstairs closed, reducing the space that your air conditioner has to cool. Plan ahead, by opening the upstairs doors an hour or so before you will be using them.
2. Ceiling and other fans help cool a room significantly. With the right circulation, using window fans you can keep your home cool without spending a lot on electricity costs.
3. Turn off unnecessary lights. Lights aren’t needed during the day and even the energy efficient light bulbs use power and put out heat. Turn off lights that are not needed and replace bulbs with energy efficient CLFs or LEDs.
4. Don’t try to cool your home more quickly by setting your air conditioner to a lower temperature than you need. It won’t cool your home more quickly and all it will achieve is a hike in your electricity usage.

By taking these steps, by turning off electronics and other appliances when they are not in use you will cut your power bill every month.