7 Tips for Reducing Your Cooling Costs

By now, most of us have gotten used to the fact that heating bills can be expensive in the winter. But what about those who live and work in warmer climates? Our air conditioning system is a significant source of home and office energy usage during the summer, and paying for it can hurt your wallet.

So if you live and work somewhere where it tends to get hot, what can you do? We've put together a list of options for reducing the energy your AC unit uses. Here are some of the ways to save big bucks on your cooling costs!

1. Install a Smart Thermostat

For those who want their temperature control to be as efficient as possible, installing a smart thermostat is the way to go. This type of thermostat allows you more control over your home or office's temperature level.

Not only do these devices allow you to manually turn off and on your AC system when it isn't needed, but they are also able to monitor the temperature in different places throughout your home. They can then adjust settings based on which rooms are hotter or colder, thus creating more even temperatures throughout the building.

Here are other benefits of using a smart thermostat:

• Easy to install - Most models allow you to set the temperature and connect the device simply through your Wi-Fi.
• You can control it from anywhere – Download an app on your phone, tablet, or computer and change the settings at work, school, or even while you're vacationing!
• They will reduce energy usage – Most models can learn from your behaviour and turn off when they sense no one is home.
• Significantly lower cooling bills – Over time, a smart thermostat can save you as much as 15% on cooling costs.

2. Increase Your Thermostat Setting a Few Degrees

Can you comfortably raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees? We understand that doing so can be difficult, especially for those who are cost-conscious. However, keep in mind that every degree higher you increase is equivalent to significant savings on your cooling costs.

Many people choose to turn the temperature on their AC down very low (such as 78 degrees) during scorching times of the day. While this saves money, you can save even more by turning it up a few degrees (like 82). An increase of just 4 degrees leads to savings of 10 percent or more on your cooling costs.

3. Add More Insulation

Here is something you might want to try for those who aren't satisfied with their home's insulation. Adding more insulation around the exterior walls of your house can drastically reduce the amount of time it takes for your AC unit to bring in cool air and send out hot air.

It can prevent your home from getting too hot during the day and help keep it colder at night. It is because insulation helps retain cool air inside your home for a more extended period than it would otherwise.

How does home insulation help reduce your cooling cost?

• It helps prevent your AC from overworking – By not having to work as hard, insulation will extend the life of your home's cooling unit.
• It keeps out hot air – In turn, this means that heat doesn't have anywhere to go but outside. On a hot day, this can make a huge difference.
• In the long run, insulation is an investment worth making – You will be able to use your AC more as intended and reap the rewards of lower cooling bills each month as a result.

If you have been considering making changes to reduce your energy costs, adding insulation should be on the list.

4. Use Fans Strategically Throughout Your Home

Using fans strategically ensures that you'll get more use out of them than just sitting in the corner of your room unused. For instance, consider placing a fan near a window that faces the direction where the wind usually blows.

By doing this, you can draw cool air into your home without having to turn on your AC system at all. And using ceiling fans is an excellent way to send hot air out of your house during the summer.

5. Limit the Use of heat-producing Appliances

If you cook a lot, then the chances are that your home will have lighting and ovens on throughout the day. While this may not seem like much, lighting and cooking can make your home feel hot.

So if possible, consider shutting off these appliances when they aren't in use. It is crucial during the hours of the day where the sun shines directly into your windows, as it can cause quite a bit of excess heat to enter your room.

Here are some examples of heat-producing appliances:

• ovens
• microwaves
• grills
• dishwashers
• washing machines
• dryers

6. Conduct Frequent AC Maintenance

Taking good care of your AC system by having it checked for any problems each year can reduce cooling costs in several ways. For one thing, an AC unit that has just had its annual check-up probably uses less power than one that has no maintenance at all.

And if the system does have some issues with it, waiting to address them will cost you more money in the long run. Remember, a check-up today can save you lots of frustration and cash tomorrow!

7. Increase Your Air Conditioning System's Efficiency

When choosing an air conditioning system for your home or office space, be sure to select one with high-efficiency ratings. Most AC units feature energy-efficient technologies such as heating coils and refrigerators, providing better cooling performance while using less energy.

Be sure to choose an AC system that fits appropriately for the layout of your building and for the climate in which you live or work. Oversized units also use more power than they should. A general rule of thumb that most contractors follow is that one ton of cooling capacity per 100 square feet of living space is sufficient.

Reducing Your Cooling Costs - Conclusion

Whether you are looking for ways to keep cool during the summer months or you want to save money on your energy bill throughout the year, there are plenty of simple changes that you can make within your daily routine.

By adding more insulation to your home, investing in more fans, limiting heat-producing appliances, you can see a significant difference in how much you can save on your cooling costs. Also, don't forget to conduct frequent maintenance checks and increase the efficiency of your AC system.

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