Air conditioning is a necessary luxury in the south during the long, hot summer months. But even if your air conditioner is working properly, there are still ways to lose that cool air making your AC and pocket book work harder than necessary to keep you cool. We have all heard the typical energy saving tips on how to save money on your electricity bill such as installing a digital thermostat, unplugging unused appliances, and lowering the temperature on your hot water heater, but here are three not-as-popular energy saving tips to help you be green and save money on your electric bill.
1. Weatherproof doors and window seals.
To beat the heat, homeowners try to keep the hot air out and the cool air in! But, if even a sheet of paper can be slipped between the joints in a door or the seals of a window, then air is "normalizing" through the cracks! Weatherproofing strips for doors and windows can significantly decrease, if not completely eliminate, the amount of air exchange happening between the outside and inside.
Make sure to replace the weatherproofing in your home if it is beginning to erode and not efficiently stopping hot air from entering your home. If you are unsure if heat exchange is occurring, hiring a local electrician to provide an energy audit using a thermal imager can pinpoint exactly where your home is letting hot air in and cool air escape.
2. Be efficient when you cook.
It is surprising how easy using a stove can negate all the cool air you had in your common areas! Even just having the oven on for 20 minutes can warm your house the few degrees needed to be uncomfortable. The key to reducing the heating effect of cooking is to be efficient when you cook. Some examples of being more efficient when you cook are:
- heating only as much water as you need for tea or noodles,
- only preheating your oven as long as it takes to reach the desired temperature (and setting a timer if your oven does not beat to alert you),
- not using the large stove burner for small pots and pans,
- using the correct size pot or pan for the amount of food you are cooking,
- turning the stove vent on when cooking to provide a localized escape for hot air,
- using lids and setting timers while cooking so that you do not have to remove the lids and let heat escape more than necessary,
- and using a pressure cooker when you can to contain heat and reduce cooking time.
3. Opening and closing the doors.
Minimizing the amount of air conditioned air that escapes a home is important in keeping a home cool. It is amazing the difference making sure to open and close a door behind you makes. Many people leave the door open because they will be right back and it will give a more convenient reentry, but really a "convenient" habit is costing them in electricity and cool air! Close the door behind you and if you are carrying numerous items, make sure to at least close the air gap enough so that you can still push the door open without leaving it wide open and losing all that precious cool air! Keeping the cool air in may require an extra effort on your part, but will save you money and energy in the end.
Author Resource:
A thorough energy audit should include a thermal imager inspection of your home or office, an electrical system inspection, an air conditioning review, and an inspection of insulation. Let a Houston electrician save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars per year on your utility bills. Call to set an appointment with your Houston TX electrician today.
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