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Thrifty Mommy

Frugal Friday #9: 10 Ways to Save on Your Summer Electric Bill

by Karen on May 25th, 2007

wasting energyIt’s not even June and the temperatures are quickly rising.  I think it’s time for some tips on keeping that electric bill under control.

1.  Keep your blinds closed as much as possible.  Opening the blinds allows the heat of the sun to come right in your house.  I leave my blinds closed while I’m gone and then open just a few later in the day.  I tilt the blinds upward to allow me to see outside and get a litttle natural light, but not heat up my house.

2.  Change your air filter every month.  Dirty filters make your air conditioner work extra hard and can increase your bill 20%.

3.  Bump up the thermostat 2-3 degrees. 

4.  Get a thermostat with a timer.  If you’re gone from 8-5, then have your thermostat go up a few degrees while you’re gone during the day and have it come back down shortly before you get home.

5.  If you’re going on vacation or going to be out of town for a few days, turn the thermostat up.  You don’t need to keep your house on 72 while you’re out of town. 

6.  Use ceiling fans to circulate air.  Ceiling fans can make your rooms seem much cooler. 

7.  Plant trees or shrubs around your a/c unit to protect it from the sun (but not blocking the air flow).  A unit out of the sun can use up to 10% less electricity.  Also, clear away any leaves or debris that may clog your unit.

8.   Don’t place lamps, tvs, or other electrical equipment near your thermostat.  They let off heat and make your thermostat think it’s hotter than it is.

9.  Don’t cool unused rooms.

10. Caulk windows and door frames and use weather stripping. 

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POSTED IN: energy saving, frugal friday, money saving idea

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