Take control of your Summer electric bills

Most people think of family vacations or school being out when they think of summer.That’s not necessarily true of your co-op’s employees. We tend to think of summer as high-bill complaint season. When I say I feel your pain, I’m not just paying lip service. My own electric bills rise along with the heat index—just like yours and those of the folks I work with here at Hamilton County Electric Cooperative. Once those kilowatts have marched through the electric meter that records them, it’s difficult to do anything about them, other than pay the bill.

But before you throw your hands up in exasperation, here’s a little secret: You can do something about those higher summertime electric bills. The secret is you have to do something now—before you use the electricity.

Here’s how to cut back on your electricity usage:

• You can save as much as 10 percent a year on your cooling (and heating) bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours a day. In the summer, raise the thermostat when you go to work or whenever you’re away from home (from 76 degrees to 85, for example). That’s the single most cost-effective measure you can take. If you install a programmable thermostat, it can do this for you.

• Have a qualified professional check out your air conditioner (and the heating system, too, while they’re at it). Preventive maintenance can save you money as well as preclude temperature discomfort.

• Shade your outdoor air conditioning unit to up its energy efficiency.

• Change air conditioner filters monthly. Clogged filters force the AC unit to work harder and increase operating costs.

• Portable and ceiling fans can make you feel cooler; when you feel cooler, you can set the thermostat higher. But when you leave the room, turn off the fan.

• Installing and using a whole-house fan can help reduce air conditioning costs. These fans draw outside air in through open windows and should be used only when the outside air temperature is lower than the desired inside temperature.

• Seal doors and windows with caulk and weatherstripping. And, if your windows are single-pane, consider replacing them. Double- and triple-pane windows are substantially more energy efficient.

• Shading and evaporative cooling from trees reduce the air temperature around your home. Plant trees, shrubs and vines with leaves that fall off in the winter on the east, south and west sides of your home. They’ll provide shade in the summer but allow sunshine in the winter. Position trees to shade windows now; when they mature, they’ll also shade the walls and roof.

• It’s well worth your investment to wrap any uninsulated ducts with at least 2 inches of fiberglass insulation. Sealing the duct system to prevent leaks is even more important if the ducts are located in an uncooled area, such as the attic. Most leaks will be found where the air duct attaches to the air conditioning unit and where ducts are joined together.

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