“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”
Amelia Earhart
It is another record-breaking, sweltering summer. And that means people who are lucky enough to have AC are cranking it up. With that in mind, I’m dropping in to share some simple tips to minimize sky-high air conditioning costs.
When it’s extremely hot, air conditioners become less efficient. The reason? When the difference in temperature between inside and outside increases, your AC needs exponentially more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature. To illustrate, when you set your thermostat to 75°, it takes 4x more energy when it is 95° outside vs. when it is 85°. As the differential goes up, costs and energy use go up even more.
All this extra AC use has some downsides:
- Strain on power grids
- More CO2 and other heat-trapping emissions
- Higher costs for individuals, families, and businesses
What can we do?
Some simple tips:
- Check and change your HVAC filters regularly and follow maintenance recommendations.
- Try acclimating yourself to a slightly warmer home. Each degree higher can cut 3-5% off your bill.
- If you have a programmable thermostat, set a schedule to keep your home warmer when you are out or asleep.
- Fans can reduce demand on your AC, and they use only 1% of the energy! Use ceiling fans when you are in the room. Portable fans are helpful if they are directed at you.
- If your climate allows, open windows at night.
- Keep blinds or curtains closed in sun-facing rooms during the heat of the day.
- Cook outside when possible – gas stoves and ovens produce a lot of heat!
- Weatherize windows and doors – this helps cut energy costs in winter as well.
We may not feel like these small adjustments in our homes makes a difference in the big picture, but they do. If we each use a little less AC, we help protect our power grids, cut emissions, and save money along the way. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.