When you live in North Texas, it’s always helpful to know some ways to save money on your air-conditioning bill. The average summer day in Dallas is a steamy 95 degrees, so when you crank up your A/C, your home is a cool respite from the heat.
Air-conditioning is a must when you reside in Texas, but it’s an expensive essential. Americans spend more than $22 billion a year on electricity to keep their homes cool, and we use a whopping 183 billion kilowatt-hours, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That’s a lot of coin to keep cool. Read on for some tips and tricks on how to save money on your cooling bill this summer.
Keep Your Ceiling Fans Running
Flip on a room’s ceiling fan, and you’ll make the space feel anywhere from three to eight degrees cooler. Ceiling fans cost less than a penny an hour to run, making them one of the most cost-effective ways to save money. If you’re looking to install some ceiling fans in your DFW home, here’s a great place to shop.
Plant Some Trees
Most heat that accumulates inside your home comes from the sun beating down on your roof or streaming in through windows. Here’s one of the smartest ways to save money: Head to the nursery and look for 15- to 20-foot-tall leafy trees to plant around your home. Or, just plant some trees or shrubs around your A/C units to give them some shade. This simple move could boost your cooling unit’s efficiency by 10 percent.
Consider Investing in a New Unit
If your air-conditioner has been around for longer than 10 years, now’s a good time to think about replacing it. Many new units are so efficient that the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you’ll use about 10 percent less energy with an Energy Star appliance than one that’s not designated as such. Here’s a great place to get up to speed on Energy Star A/C units and more.
Give Your Air Conditioner a Hand
When you live in the Metroplex, your air-conditioner is working hard all summer long. Help your cooling unit do its job most effectively. Consider using a programmable timer or thermostat so that your A/C is running only when you’re at home. By regulating your temperature when you’re out of the house, you can save about $180 a year.
When your air-conditioner kicks on, don’t sweat it. By following the ideas above, you can chill your cooling costs and still have some money left over to go out and have some summer fun in Dallas.
Image Source: Flickr/russellstreet
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