How to Stay Cool and Save Money on Your Electric Bill This Summer

As the summer heat approaches, many of us are bracing ourselves for the higher cooling bills that come with it. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), residential electric costs are expected to be the highest in 10 years, with the average homeowner paying around $719 to keep their house cool from June to September. That’s an 8% increase from last year.

What You Need to Know

• The average cost of cooling a home from June to September could cost $719
• Sign up for an energy audit to check your home for leaks
• Upgrading to a smart thermostat can help regulate heating and cooling for your home

To help you stay cool and save money on your electric bill, we turned to the energy-saving experts at Wise Home Energy in Rochester for some cost-saving tips.

Give Your Air Conditioning Unit a Checkup

One of the most important factors in reducing energy costs and keeping cool is to give your air conditioning unit a checkup. Change the filter, as dirty filters block airflow. You can also keep your thermostat at a temperature just cool enough to keep you comfortable, and then bump it up one degree, as that one-degree difference could save on energy usage.

Basic Home Maintenance Can Help You Save Money

Some basic home maintenance can help you save money on your energy bill:

• A/C checkup
• Change filter
• Close curtains to block the sun
• Turn up the thermostat one degree
• Wash clothes in cold water

Sign up for a free home energy assessment to identify areas in your home where energy is being wasted.

Keep Your Home Cool and Energy-Efficient

To keep your home cool and energy-efficient, remember to:

• Close curtains and blinds to keep things cool inside
• Turn on ceiling fans, which can make you feel cooler
• Unplug anything you’re not using to eliminate standby usage
• Wash your clothes in cold water and take a cool shower
• Lower the temperature of your water heater to save energy

Companies like Wise Home Energy can help you identify areas in your home where energy is being wasted and provide you with a free home energy assessment. New York residents can connect with a contractor to visit their house and check on all kinds of things.

Get a Free Home Energy Assessment

Anyone who pays into the system through RG&E, NYSEG, and National Grid can have a no-cost assessment through the state’s Residential Energy Assessment Program. It’s a simple one-page application, and you’ll receive a copy of your electric and gas bill or propane or oil if you have those fuel sources.

“All it takes is a simple one-page application and a copy of your electric and gas bill or propane or oil if you have those fuel sources. So, it is a good idea to have it done. A lot of people think, oh, I had it done ten years ago, but we wouldn’t go to the doctor and say I went ten years ago. You’d want to have this done on occasion to check what the new technologies are or to see how your home is performing,” said Jeff Flaherty, owner of Wise Home Energy.

Energy efficiency tips to save you money

A home energy assessment can help you identify areas in your home where energy is being wasted

A smart thermostat can help regulate heating and cooling for your home

Ceiling fans can make you feel cooler and save energy

Wash your clothes in cold water to save energy

Lower the temperature of your water heater to save energy

Basic home maintenance can help you save money on your energy bill

Energy-saving tips to help you stay cool and save money