Space Cooling Energy Cost Reduction – Save on Electric Bill

Adjust the Temperature

Setting the thermostat just 2÷F (1÷C) higher will save you 5%-10% on cooling expenses!

Set your thermostat to a 74÷F (23÷C). This temperature is comfortable enough, and will reduce your energy consumption and cut your utility bill.

Air-Seal it!

There are many cheap ways to find an air leak:

1. If you see a crack – you’ve got a leak.
2. If you can feel the cool air slipping outside beneath the door or under the window – that’s a leak.
3. Try holding a feather around the windows and doors. If it moves – it’s a leak.
4. Have someone light incense on the outside and put it near the windows or doors. If you can smell it inside – you have a leak. You can do the opposite – light it inside and look for the leak from the outside.

Air leaks around doors and windows can be easily fixed using either weather striping or caulking. Most caulking products cost under $10 on Amazon or eBay . Caulking Rope, one of the easiest types to apply sells for about 1$ per 10 feet on Amazon & eBay .

Air sealing your home will get you cheap utility bills during winter too, as it is crucial for keeping the heat inside.

Insulate it!

Extra insulation usually pay’s itself in 1 or 2 years and helps saving the environment too.

Take a look around the attic – good insulation should be around 6 inches to 1 foot.

In summer heat tend to build up in the attic to very high temperatures.  Poor insulation let that heat radiate into the house, increasing your A/C’s energy consumption and resulting in high electric bills.

Proper insulation crucial for energy cost reduction, and can save 5%-10% from your cooling costs. It will lower your electric bills during winter too, as it will help keeping the heat inside.

Insulating you attic can make an easy DIY weekend project. Proper r-38 insulation can be found on Amazon or eBay .

Install Double Glazing

Needles to say that with double glazing you get to save money on electricity all year round, as they also help keeping the heat in winter.

They aren’t cheap, but play important role in energy cost reduction and will pay themselves after 3 to 4 years.

Roll Down the Shades

You don’t have to keep them down all day long. Roll them down only when you need to block the direct sunlight. Dark curtains will do the job with similar results

Do the exact opposite in the winter, of course. Let the sun in to help heat your home with passive solar energy.

Clean the Air-Filter

A clogged air-filter reduces the A/C efficiency, making it work harder, increasing its energy use and shortening its life, not to mention that it is an ideal place for bacteria to grow.

Install Ceiling Fans

They create a very pleasant air flow in the room they are installed in, eliminating the need for A/C almost all year round.

The overall feeling, when using a ceiling fan is 16÷F (8÷C) cooler than the actual ambient temperature. 

In mild weather a ceiling fan can replace A/C, but if you’re living where it’s too hot – it doesn’t mean that ceiling fans aren’t for you.

With ceiling fans installed throughout your home, you can raise the thermostat on your air conditioner by as much as 10÷F (5÷C), which will lower your electric bill by 40%!.

Personally, I prefer sleeping with a fan above the bed than with an A/C.
Installing ceiling fans is one of the cheapest ways for energy cost reduction.

Both Amazon & eBay carries a wide selection of Ceiling Fans.

Use Portable Fans/Air Coolers

Check out Amazon’s and eBay’s selection of affordable Portable Fans.

Install Roof Turbine

Roof turbine is a free spinning device which uses no electricity or any other power source.

Even light breeze will make it turn, sucking the heat away from the space above your ceiling, significantly lowering  the temperature of your home and saving you a lot of money.

Roof turbines are rain proof, easy to install and don’t cost much – the good ones cost around $60, are made of aluminum, has a hurricane rating and comes with a 10 year warranty.

You get significant energy cost reduction for a bargain price. A good place to look for a roof turbine vent is Amazon or eBay

Use Evaporative Coolers

They are simple devices, cheep, consume very little electricity and require no installation. You just roll them into the room, plug them into the outlet, fill up some water and you’re done.

Evaporative coolers cool by blowing air over water. When water evaporates – they cool down and cool the air flowing over them. You get a nice cool breeze.

When it’s really hot outside, A/C becomes very inefficient. Desert coolers, on the other hand work better as outside temperature rises, as long as the air in not too humid.

Plant Trees

Trees also serve as good wind breakers in winter.

Shade your A/C

For best results install the compressor unit on the shadiest side of your house (usually the north side), and make sure the area is well ventilated and nothing blocks the compressor’s ventilation. 

If you have weeds or shrubs growing near the A/C unit, trim them for best airflow.

Ventilate your Home when Possible

At night, close the A/C and open the windows and doors to let the cooler air in. Comes morning, close them back, lower the shutters and keep the coolness for as long as possible.