Don’t Make These Energy-Wasting Mistakes

Summer is the time for bike rides, pool parties, backyard barbecues – and high energy bills. If you’re trying to save energy dollars this summer, don’t fall prey to these common mistakes.

What You Need to Know

• Mistake #1: Cranking down the thermostat – It’s a false notion that setting the thermostat to 65 degrees provides a shortcut to 75. Cool air enters your home through supply registers at a set rate. In this way, turning on the air conditioner is like flipping a light switch, not pushing on a gas pedal. Prevent wasting energy by changing the thermostat one degree at a time.

• Mistake #2: Turning off the AC when you leave – You might be aiming to save energy dollars, but it takes a lot of time and energy to restore a comfortable temperature to a sweltering house. However, it’s even more wasteful to keep the AC running at full speed. The best compromise is to program setback periods into a programmable thermostat. Bring the temperature up 8 to 10 degrees while you’re at work all day with an automatic program to resume a comfortable temperature 30 minutes before you get home. This tactic lets you save energy dollars without sacrificing comfort.

• Mistake #3: Running ceiling fans 24/7 – You’re right—the wind chill created by ceiling fans makes you feel much cooler. However, ceiling fans only cool people with air circulation. They don’t actually bring the temperature down. That’s why you should only run the ceiling fan when people are in the room, and turn it off when you leave.

• Mistake #4: Closing supply vents – This is counterintuitive since the HVAC system is balanced to deliver air efficiently with all supply registers open. If you only want to cool certain sections of your home, consider zoning or ductless mini-splits.

For more tips to save energy dollars at home this summer, please contact Carefree Comfort, Inc.. We’ve been serving Highland Park and surrounding areas since 1984.

Image Provided by Shutterstock.com