Summer can mean higher energy bills because of cooling costs. Follow these tips and best practices to prepare your home from the sweltering heat while keeping your cooling costs under control.
Use floor and ceiling fans
On those nice days when it doesn’t feel as hot, turn off your AC and use ceiling, floor and table fans instead. Fans use a fraction of the energy that central AC units do — so when the job can be done by a fan, pick the fan.
Upgrade to a smart thermostat
If you haven’t upgraded to a smart thermostat, now is the time to do so. These thermostats can change the temperature automatically based on your preferences, so you can set a lower temperature when you’re home and a higher temperature while you’re away.
Don’t cool an empty house
If you don’t have a smart thermostat, when you leave the house during the summer, remember to turn up the thermostat to 85-90°F so you don’t cool your home when no one is there to enjoy it.
Get a dehumidifier
Illinois summers are known for their humidity, so combat it with a dehumidifier. Reducing the amount of moisture in the air can make your home seem much cooler, without having to turn on the AC.
Concentrate your AC
When it is just too hot to use fans, try to concentrate your air conditioning flow to the rooms or areas of your home that you use the most. This is more energy-efficient than trying to cool your entire home. Close the vents in those rooms you don’t frequently use, like spare bedrooms and the basement and only open them when you need them.
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The Traveler Weekly 