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Even when the temperature is rising, you want to make sure that your energy bill stays low. When you are looking at how to best keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently throughout the summer, there are a few things you can do to help save on energy.
Upgrade your home’s thermostat
Upgrading your thermostat from a manual to a programmable or smart thermostat can help you have more control over both your home’s temperature and energy bill. Learn more about the different thermostats available, and which will help you maximize your cooling efforts this summer
Use ceiling fans
Ceiling fans can help to keep your home comfortable and take some of the pressure off of your AC by keeping the cooled air circulating throughout your home. During the summer, make sure that your fan is set to spin counter-clockwise for maximum cool air distribution.
Close your curtains and blinds
Depending on the direction of your home, a window that allows in direct sun exposure can heat up your home in no time. Limit the sunlight coming in by closing the blinds and curtains on your windows.
Keep return air and fan vents clear and unblocked
This can be a tricky task if you have limited space however, the benefits outweigh the costs. Keep vents uncovered by furniture or other items will increase airflow and put less strain on your air conditioning unit and fan. This will allow cooler air to circulate more freely thus cooling your home more quickly and efficiently. Along with this benefit comes less use of these units and will save you money.
Increase shade around your home
If you’ve got space around the perimeter of your home, consider planting trees and tall shrubs to give your home more shade. By decreasing the direct sunlight your home gets, you can help to reduce your cooling needs.
Consider an ENERGY STAR certified Air Conditioner
When selecting a new air conditioner for your home, look to see if the unit is ENERGY STAR certified. AC models with this certification have a higher seasonal energy ratio (SEER) and energy efficiency ratio (EER) that will help to reduce your energy consumption throughout the summer months.
