Cutting Your Summer Energy Bills While Keeping Your Home Cool
Beat the heat while keeping your bank account flush. With summer temperatures already breaking records, it’s no surprise that your home cooling costs are expected to be nearly 8% higher this summer. Luckily, there are ways you can pay less without sacrificing your comfort.
Summer is here, and so are the high energy bills
When dealing with sweltering temperatures, you need an air conditioner that can keep your home cool. But, while it’s understandable to want a comfortable environment to live in, it’s also important to remain conscious of how energy-efficient your home is. You may be tempted to turn the temperature on your thermostat all the way down, but lowering the temp will make your electric bill rise – especially with energy costs remaining high.
So, we’ve compiled some tips to keep your home as comfortably cool as possible while minimizing the amount of electricity you use. Something as simple as turning on a fan or closing the blinds during the day can make a big difference.
1. Sign up for an energy audit
If your home isn’t brand new, the cold air inside is probably seeping out through doors and windows with spotty seals, a poorly insulated attic, and other locations of sneaky cracks.
To see how well your home is holding the cold in, sign up for a home energy audit with your utility provider or a local contractor. A certified home energy rater or auditor will check your home for leaks and recommend the best way to make your home more energy-efficient.
2. Get a smart thermostat
If you haven’t upgraded to a smart thermostat – such as one by Ecobee or Nest – it might be time to make a change. Smart thermostats can regulate heating and cooling when you’re not home to save money. Plus, you can adjust the settings remotely using an app on your phone or via voice commands.
3. Check the placement of your thermostat
Thermostat placement can play a big part in how well your air conditioner works. If you put the thermostat on a wall right next to a hot window, for instance, your air conditioner will kick on much more often than it needs to because your thermostat will think the room is hotter than it actually is.
4. Close the blinds
A window letting in the hot sun won’t just heat up your thermostat, it’ll heat you up, too. During the warmest part of the day, close your blinds to keep out the sun. It can also help insulate your windows, which stops the cold air from escaping.
5. Try a ceiling fan
You don’t always need to amp up the AC to feel cooler. Using a ceiling fan can make a room feel cooler, enough that you can increase the thermostat temperature by 4 degrees “with no reduction in comfort.”
6. Increase the temperature
To save the most money, always set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can comfortably stand. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to keep your AC at the right temperature.
Save Money on Petrol and Diesel This Summer
With petrol and diesel prices remaining “persistently high”, many of us will be looking at ways we can save money on fuel this summer.
The RAC said prices for petrol and diesel in Britain are “far higher than they should be” as wholesale costs have fallen since the end of April, while retailers’ margins remain “persistently high”.
Here are 5 money-saving tips for motorists grappling with diesel costs that have soared by up to an average price of 155p:
1. Check your tyre pressure
Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is essential for vehicle efficiency. Underinflated tyres can lower mileage and increase fuel usage. Proper inflation improves vehicle safety and extends their life.
2. Keep your windows closed if driving over 40mph
At higher speeds, keeping windows closed reduces aerodynamic drag. While the impact on fuel efficiency can vary depending on vehicle design and driving conditions, reducing drag helps maintain better fuel economy at highway speeds.
3. Turn off the air conditioning
Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by using significant engine power. When you first get into your vehicle, open the window to lower the temperature of the cabin. Then, if you use the air conditioner, it won’t have to work as hard to cool the car down.
4. Avoid idling
An idling engine burns fuel without moving, which wastes petrol and increases wear and tear on the engine. To avoid unnecessary fuel consumption, it’s recommended to turn off the engine during prolonged stops.
5. Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle
Extra weight in a vehicle causes it to consume more fuel. Reducing the weight can improve the car’s miles per gallon.
Save money on fuel with these simple tips
By following these simple tips, you can save money on your energy bills and petrol costs this summer. Remember, every little bit counts, and making these small changes can add up to make a big difference in your wallet.
