Peak electrical usage is in the summer when we cool our homes. I employ many techniques to keep my home cool and save money on electric bills.
As a successful broker, I understand the value of money. My job as a top agent is not only making my clients money in the Real Estate Market, it’s saving them money in the process.
Experience has taught me that the biggest savings starts with detailed maintenance of your home.
Maintenance Tips
Tip #1 Exterior Door Seals
Check the seals around your exterior doors. They should show no light around the perimeter and close firmly. If otherwise there’s a sweep at the bottom of the door and rubber seals that can be easily replaced.
Tip #2 Service your Air Conditioner
Your condenser unit, outside your home, and your evaporative coil, inside your home, should be cleaned annually. This ensures they obtain peak heat transfer efficiency. You may want to have the rest of the unit checked out by a professional while you are at it.
Tip #3 Turn ceiling fans to pull air up
There is a switch on the side of all your ceiling fans. This changes the direction they spin. You want the fan to pull the cold air up to the ceiling.
Tip #4 Schedule Appliances
You can go switch your electrical service to Time of Use plan. This gives you lower rates during different hours of the day. Then schedule your cloths washer, dish washer, dryer, even AC to run during the time the lower rates are available. Typically this is at night when you should schedule them to run anyways.
Tip #5 Insulate Unused Windows
I have a large house with bedrooms I seldom use. I got high density white foam board and stuck it in the windows of the bedrooms I don’t use. This DRAMATICALLY cuts down on heat transfer into the room.
Tip #6 Repairs / Repair Leaky Windows
Dual pane windows have a gasket or seal between the panes. These tend to go bad. You can spot moisture in-between them indicating they won’t insulate as well anymore. Additionally, single pane windows sometimes need to be resealed as well to prevent airflow from entering the house.
Upgrade Options
Tip #7 Swap single pane windows for dual pane
Consider upgrading to dual pane windows if you have an older home. These windows are a substantial improvement over single pane windows. Especially on sides of the house that have the most sun exposure.
Tip #8 Add insulation
Insulation may settle reducing it’s effectiveness. You can use a thermal camera to determine if and where energy is being lost through your walls. Then consider adding additional insulation in those areas. Blow in insulation is easiest to add especially in attic areas.
Tip #9 Install solar shades
These are darker window screens that snap on the exterior of the window and cover it entirely. They reduce the amount of sunlight / heat entering your house. They have an additional benefit that is, protecting the seals in your windows from the sunlight that breaks them down. You should consider these especially for the sides of the house with the most sun exposure.
Tip #10 Blackout curtains
Blackout curtains have a thick material that stops sunlight. It will further reduce heat transfer. They are awesome in bedrooms as they help keep it dark while you’re sleeping.
Tip #11 Attic Circulation Fan
Most attics are not insulated. These attics have vents but occasionally, the air stops moving and your attic then acts as a oven. They sell small fans for homes like this with gable vents. You can place those fans up there to keep airflow in the attic and reduce the heating effect, better insulating your house.
Tip #12 Install an air exchanger
There are numerous versions of air exchangers. These periodically place fresh air in your house and increase the efficiency of your air conditioner’s refrigeration system. When coupled with a smart thermostat you can exchange air out when commanded temperature is cooler outside than AC setting. This helps you avoid running the AC all together and instead a small fan. The reverse works when heating too!
Tip #13 Install programmable and or smart thermostat
Smart thermostats monitor weather reports and track your habits. They then intelligently figure out how to make cost saving measures such as throttling down the AC when it’s cooling off outside. Some additionally know when your gone and turn down the AC. They can be a great tool to saving on your electrical budget as well as preserve the life of you HVAC equipment.
Power Service
You may additionally, negotiate or apply for a different rate with your electrical provider. Most providers have several plans / strategies for billing. Some of these maybe less expensive.
You’ll want to keep an eye out for power company incentives as well. Many times they offer rebates on energy saving devices, even rebates on new air conditioners, pool pumps, lights, etc.
The best solar lease I ever saw was directly through the power company. However, I tend to shy away from solar leases. They are too complex to identify the immediate savings. Variables critical to understanding a lease include the weather, time usage, billing method from power company, the list goes on. On the flip side, you can immediately model the cost benefit when panels are purchased.
Helping you get the most out of your home
I’m a full time Real Estate Broker with background in engineering. I have extensive knowledge of systems in our homes and use that to make my clients thousands of dollars more than any other agent.
When the time comes to move I’ll show you how to get the most out of your home. In the meantime, please share any additional energy saving tips you have below.