Summer is a time when electricity usage can soar. The financial impact of summer energy bills can be significantly reduced through good planning and adjustment. This guide provides simple ways to save on your energy costs this summer:
Limit sources of heat
Insulation is a worthwhile investment for comfort and energy savings. As much as 50% of the energy used to cool an uninsulated home can be wasted through air leaks. Aside from insulation, there are numerous low-cost ways to reduce heat in your home:
- Reduce heat from direct sunlight by using shade on windows (especially north and west facing).
- If possible, plant trees and bushes outside windows and walls to provide natural shading.
- Close windows and curtains during the hottest part of the day.
- When temperatures drop outside, open windows or doors on opposite sides of the room.
- Seal gaps around windows and doors with weather strips.
- Turn off lights, computers, consoles, and televisions when not in use.
- Use the dishwasher or washing machine when it's cooler and avoid using the oven in the hottest part of the day.
- Opt for LEDs which emit less heat, use 75% less energy, and last up to 10 times longer than halogen globes.
Be smart with using air conditioners
If your air conditioner has a compressor that sits outside, provide it with some shading so it doesn’t need to work harder from exposure to the sun.
To ensure the system continues to operate efficiently, servicing should be completed by a licensed technician. Cleaning the dust filters between servicing will improve efficiency.
Only use your air conditioner when necessary and set the temperature between 25 and 27 degrees. Every degree higher can save between 5 and 10% on you energy use.
To find out more about saving on your air conditioning costs and how air conditioning works, see:
Fans
Consider opting for fans instead of turning on the air conditioner. Fans have to be blowing on you to feel the cooling effect but are much cheaper to run.
Ceiling fans are the most efficient but pedestal and bladeless fans are also quite cost-effective. The portable fan costs around 2 to 3 cents per hour to operate.
For more information on cooling options, see the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's information on heating and cooling.
Other ways to cool down
With a slight shift in daily routine and a few simple tricks, you can reduce reliance on costly mechanical cooling.
- Adjust your routine to spend hot days in cooler public spaces if possible, such as shopping during the day instead of the evening.
- For an instant cool-down, spray yourself with a mist of water or drape a moist towel around your neck.
- Wetting your wrists and other pulse points will also cool the body.
- Opt for loose and light-weight clothing made from organic cottons and breathable fabrics and wear lighter colours.
This information has been sourced from The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.