During the hot summer months, the electricity bill can break the bank! Below are ways to save on your cooling bill. Some are inexpensive, quick and simple, others are more involved and costly. Look for items that you can do to start saving money now and plan for those that you can do in the future.
Usage varies in every household. However, according to the EIA Annual Energy Outlook, here’s how most electricity is used in U.S. homes:
| Usage Area | % of Total |
| Cooling & Heating | 30% |
| Water Heating | 11% |
| Refrigeration | 6% |
| Washer & Dryer | 5% |
| Lighting | 4% |
| Television & Related Equipment | 4% |
| Computers & Related Equipment | 2% |
| Freezers | 1% |
| Cooking | 1% |
| Dishwashers | 1% |
| Other Uses | 33% |
Notes: Other includes small electric devices, heating elements, exterior lights and grills, pool heaters, backup generators and motors not listed above.
Find out how to save on electricity in various areas of your home:
Air-conditioner/heater
- The first step to save on your electric bill is the energy home audit. Do a DIY energy audit or check with your utility company to see if they offer energy audits.
- Schedule an annual HVAC tune-up to ensure your system is operating efficiently. It’s better to do this before the heating or cooling season.
- If the HVAC air filter is dirty or clogged, air flow becomes unbalanced, and the system has to work harder. Most filters say to change them every three months. If you have pets, think about changing them monthly.
- A smart thermostat can learn your schedule and optimize cooling your home based on weather.
- If your HVAC system is more than 15 years old, it’s nearing replacement time. A new system will be more energy efficient and cut electricity costs.
- Do not close the air vents in rooms you aren’t using. HVAC systems are designed to produce a certain amount of air. Closing a vent increases pressure in the system and can cause air leaks or an unbalanced flow and make your HVAC system use more energy.
- Use light blocking blinds on your home, especially on the southern side of your home, which is the side that gets the most sun exposure.
- Ceiling fans don’t cool the room, they cool you through evaporation. They don’t make the temperature drop, just the “feels like” temperature. You’ll feel cool, and running a fan is cheaper than dropping the temp on your AC.
- The condenser unit (the part of the unit that is outside) can become clogged with leaves and grass clippings. Check this a couple times during the cooling season.
- Thebest thermostat settings for winter are 68° when at home, 55-60° when away. The best thermostat settings for summer are: 76° when at home, 80° when away from home.
- A/C systems are sized to maintain the set temperature based on a typical seasonal day. If it’s hotter than normal, your system will struggle to drop the temperature in your home. Lowering the thermostat won’t make it cool off faster, it will just make your HVAC run longer and cost more.
- HVAC will output water as it cools. That HVAC condensation drain line should be cleaned periodically to avoid buildup. This won’t save on your electric bill, but a backed-up drain line can drain water into walls or ceiling, creating a costly repair.
- If your coil or air handler is in the attic, make sure there’s no water in the secondary pan underneath it. That could signify a repair need.
- Your condenser unit (the part of your HVAC system that’s outside) will work more efficiently if you provide it with some shade. That could be shrubs, a fence or a shade cover. Whatever you use, make sure there’s at least 3 feet of airflow around the condenser unit.
- If you have window units, shade them to keep them more efficient. An awning over the window can help.
- Cover (or remove) window AC units during the off-season to keep cold air out.
- Check each central HVAC vent to ensure it’s pointed at the interior of the room.
Kitchen
- Keep a gap of 10 inches or more between the back of the refrigerator and the wall when positioning it. Also ensure that cooking and heating appliances are not close to the refrigerator.
- Refrigerator coils (condenser coils) are black coils on the back or bottom of your fridge. If there’s a lot of dirt on the coils, it will require more energy to cool food. Use a soft bristled brush to scrape, then vacuum.
- Many people set their refrigerator at the coldest settings. According to Consumer Reports, your fridge only needs to be at 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Many families have a second refrigerator in the garage that is typically older and less energy efficient. Consider replacing it with a newer model.
- Place a dollar bill in fridge door, half in and half out. If you can pull it out, you may need to replace seal.
- Most of the energy that’s used in your dishwasher comes from heating the water. Only run it when there is a full load.
- Use the air-dry setting on your dishwasher or open it to dry the dishes when it’s done running.
- According to gov, use small electric pans, toaster ovens or convection ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster or convection oven uses less energy.
- Reduce heat in the kitchen by cooking outside or by meal prepping one day a week.
- Unplug coffee maker, microwave and toaster oven when not in use. They can draw electricity even if they are not on.
- Turn off the vent fan above your stove when you finish cooking. The vent fan replaces inside air with outside air and can offset the thermostat setting in your home.
- Check under the sink where plumbing pipes enter your kitchen. You will likely see a gap around the pipes. If there is a draft coming in, use expanding foam to seal these gaps.
- Do not put uncovered foods in the refrigerator. Condensation makes the fridge work harder.
- Cook with lids on because foods cook faster with lids so the heat cannot escape.
- Preheat oven only if necessary. For casseroles and other foods that require long cooking times preheating the oven usually is not necessary. The exceptions are meats and other temperature-critical foods.
- If possible, substitute the microwave for the oven. They use less electricity and release less heat.
- Keep the fridge and freezer full because food acts as insulation and lessens the amount of time the fridge has to run to stay cool.
- According to Angie’s List, you’ll get 6 to 15 years out of your refrigerator. When you replace it, buy the most efficient Energy Star appliance you can afford.
Home office
- Use outside lighting instead of overhead lights.
- Pick a room that’s on the north or east side of your home to avoid the afternoon sun.
- Opt for a desk lamp instead of overhead lights to cut electricity usage.
- A current sensing power strip senses when a device switches off or goes into sleep mode. It will automatically turn off the power to your devices.
Laundry room
- Around 90% of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water. Wash in cold water.
- Don’t overload the dryer. You’ll just need to run it multiple times to get the laundry dry.
- When drying clothes, don’t mix heavy towels with lighter clothing. Dryer will have to run longer.
- Ensure that outside dryer vent is sealed to ensure outside air isn’t entering your home.
- Every month, use long vacuum nozzle tip to remove lint that in the dryer below the screen.
- Clean dryer duct by using an auger brush attachment and a drill. This helps your dryer run more efficiently and reduces the risk of a fire hazard.
- Consider converting to a gas dryer as they are more energy efficient.
Insulation, ventilation
- Insulation should fill the space between the joists in your attic floor. Insulation degrades over time, so there could be a need to add more or replace it after 10-15 years.
- If you live in an older home, wall insulation may be insufficient. To check, remove a light or socket cover (with the electricity shut off at the breaker) and use flashlight to look inside the walls.
- Install an attic tent to insulate the attic access door.
- Your attic should match the season, meaning hot in the summer and cold in the winter. If it’s not, it means your central air and heating system duct work is leaking into your attic. If you find leaks in the ductwork, make sure you patch them up with foil-backed tape, not duct tape.
- If you can feel a breeze or see daylight under or around your door, adjust the threshold or install a new door sweep. Some thresholds have adjustment screws. If so, loosen the screws to raise your threshold. If not, replace the insulated door sweep at the bottom of the door.
- If you have hot water pipes in the attic, garage or basement, you’re losing heat as water travels from water heater to other areas. Using pipe insulators will help. Place the pipe sleeve so the seam is face down on the pipe, then use aluminum foil tape to secure it every 12-18 inches.
- Your home needs to have a way for moisture to get out – exhaust fans, soffit vents, roof vents. If your attic has evidence of moisture, rot or humidity, you may need more roof vents or soffit vents.
- New double or triple pane tinted windows can really cut your energy bill.
- Older single pane windows typically hold the glass in place with glazing compound. This can become cracked or even fall out, letting wind and rain in. Reglazing windows is a low cost DIY project for energy savings.
- In warmer climates, consider installing a radiant barrier in your attic to help reflect heat that’s captured in your shingles.
- Insulate electrical outlets to keep air from entering. Buy outlet insulators at hardware stores.
- Within your attic, temperatures can climb to 160 degrees or more. Venting this heat can cool the inside of your home. An attic fan blows hot air outside and pulls cooler air inside through your soffit vents. This can help the HVAC system more efficiently cool your home.
- If you aren’t using your fireplace regularly, consider adding a fireplace plug just below the damper to reduce cold air drafts inside your home in the winter.
- Check for leaks around ceiling light fixtures, electrical or plumbing lines in your attic. Plugging these holes is simple with caulking or spray foam filling the gaps.
Water heater
- Keep water heater set to120* or below.
- If you are replacing your water heater, consider going to a tankless unit. These heat water on demand rather than maintaining the temperature on a whole tank of water.
- Water heater can become clogged with sediment because the heating element can cause a chemical reaction with minerals in hard water. Follow steps on how to flush your water heater.
- A high-efficiency electric water heater can offer huge savings on your electric bill once you factor in the costs of water-intensive activities (running washing machine, dishwashers, showers).
- Your water heater runs 3 to 5 times daily to maintain the water temperature at its set point. Yet you probably only use hot water in the morning for bathing and at night for cooking and cleaning. A water heater timer can be set to only run when needed.
Living areas
- Your televisions, set-top boxes, home theater systems, DVD players and video game consoles can account for 4% of your electricity usage. Pay attention here to save on electric bill.
- Your electronics draw power while in standby mode. A smart power strip with energy monitoring will shut off the electric current when your devices are turned off.
- Modern smart TVs usually have power savings modes. These can help reduce energy usage when you are using it and when you aren’t.
- Want to have the TV on for background music? Set it to blank the screen and save money.
Home exterior
- Depending on your home’s age, you may want to replace your wiring. Outdated wiring can be energy-inefficient and a fire hazard.
- If replacing roof shingles, look at reflective roofing products. A traditional roof can reach temps of 150 degrees on a hot day. A cool roof cuts that temp by 50 degrees according to gov.
- Shade trees can help block sunlight from your roof and windows and reduce cooling costs. The trees will cast their shadow as the sun travels from east to west. Plant accordingly.
- Insulate your garage door to keep your garage 12 degrees warmer in the winter and 25 degrees cooler in the summer.
- An awning over windows, sliding glass or French doors can keep direct heat off the house and provide shade in hot months. Block sunlight in hot months. Let it in during colder months.
- Install storm doors on all exterior doors to prevent energy loss.
- Use solar lights outdoors. They absorb the sun’s energy during the day and run for free at night.
Bathroom
- Getting an energy-efficient shower head can help save not only 2700 gallons each year but also lower your usage of hot water (and the electricity to heat it up.)
- The average shower runs for about eight minutes and can use more than 16 gallons of hot water. Long showers mean more electricity to heat more water.
- Cut water heating costs by taking showers instead of baths.
- Do not leave bathroom ventilation fans running longer than necessary.
Lighting
- Replace CFL or incandescent bulbs with LED lights, which use significantly less power.
- Turn lights off when you leave a room.
- One larger wattage bulb is more efficient than two smaller wattage bulbs.
- A dirty light bulb or light fixture can cut the light output by 10%.
- Use lamps for reading rather than lighting up the entire room.
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