How to Cut Your Summer Energy Bills While Keeping Your Home Cool

Is it hot in here or is it just us? Summer 2024 is absolutely scorching. Actually, it’s already beating the record temperatures of last summer. So it’s no surprise that the cost of cooling your home is expected to be nearly 8% higher this summer, with average cost of keeping a cool American home expected to hit a 10-year high. Fortunately, there is still a way to pay less without sacrificing comfort.

When dealing with high temperatures, you need air conditioning that can keep your home cool. But while it’s understandable to want a comfortable living environment, it’s also important to stay clear about how energy efficiency your home is. You may be tempted to turn up the heat thermostat all the way, but lowering the temperature will increase your electric bill — especially with energy costs remain high.

So, we’ve put together 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 the fan or closing the blinds during the day can make a big difference.

Here are six tricks to keep your home cool and use your thermostat more economically when it’s warmer outside. (For more, we also recommend investing in a smart plug or a smart thermostat, temperature regulation on your thermostat and removal of time to save extra money.)

1. Sign up for an energy audit

If your home isn’t brand new, the cold air inside is likely seeping in through doors and windows with spotty seals, a poorly insulated attic, and other places with hidden cracks.

To see how well your home keeps out the cold, sign up for a home energy audit with your utility provider or local contractor. A certified energy assessor or auditor will check your home for leaks and recommend the best way to make your home more energy efficient.

I don’t want to spring for audit? You can do a do-it-yourself audit instead. Stand outside your home and run your hand around the windows and doors. Can you feel the cold air coming out? If you do, seal leaky windows and add insulation around doors.

2. Get a smart thermostat

If you haven’t upgraded to a smart thermostat – like a po Ecobee or Nest — maybe it’s time to make a change. Smart thermostats can adjust heating and cooling when you’re not home to save money. You can also adjust settings remotely using an app on your phone or by voice commands. Here is our list of the best smart thermostats to help you make the best decision for your home.

3. Check the placement of your thermostat

The placement of the thermostat can play a big role in how well your air conditioner works. If you put the thermostat on a wall right next to a hot window, for example, your air conditioner will come on much more often than it needs to because your thermostat will think the room is hotter than it actually is. Here’s how to choose the perfect wall for your thermostat and the ideal temperature you should set it to. You can also consider a smart thermostat that comes with additional room sensors that allow it to monitor the temperature in your home.

4. Close the blinds

A window that lets in the hot sun will not only heat up your thermostat, it will also heat you up. During the hottest part of the day, lower the blinds to keep out the sun. It can also help insulate your windows, which stops cold air from escaping. There are also special ones insulating blinds, curtains and curtains which can keep your home even cooler.

5. Try a ceiling fan

You don’t always have to turn up the air conditioning to feel cooler. Using a ceiling fan can make the room cooler, enough to allow you to increase the temperature of the thermostat by 4 degrees “without reducing comfort”. If you want to get high tech, you can install a smart ceiling fan that connects to an app and automatically adjusts itself based on schedules you create. Just make sure your fan rotates counterclockwise in the summer to get the most benefit.

6. Increase the temperature

To save the most money, always set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can comfortably handle. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to keep your air conditioner at the right temperature. You can program the unit to maintain higher temperatures while you are at work and cool down just before you get home.

You can save 10% a year on your cooling bills by setting your thermostat just 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit higher for 8 hours each day, according to the Nebraska Department of Energy. The US Department of Energy recommends aiming for an internal temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you are at home. But it’s okay if 78 degrees isn’t doable for you; even a small change in temperature can save you big money, reducing your energy bill by up to 3% per year.

For more energy savings, check out our home sustainability cheat sheet full of eco tips and read about them how you can save money by unplugging certain appliances when you are not using them.

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