Depending on your cooling system, cooling your home can have a big impact on your energy use and drive up your bill. If you’re looking to cut costs and save energy, try the Cooling Cost Calculator by Eversource. You’ll be able to select your equipment type and understand average daily and annual costs based on various temperature settings.
You can compare how much it would cost to cool with a window unit, a whole home air conditioner, or a mini split heat pump. Guess which system has the lowest average cost? The mini split. You may want to keep that in mind when you are ready for an upgrade.
Here are some energy saving tips to get us through the last days of summer (or to prepare for next year):
- Clean or replace AC filters to keep it running as efficiently as possible.
- Set your AC to the highest comfortable temperature. Every degree you lower the thermostat can drive up your bill by 6 percent. (U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78F when you are home.)
- Use a timer or programmable thermostat to regulate AC use – especially when not home. Setting them to turn on about a half-hour before returning home should allow plenty of time to cool the place down.
- Close blinds and draperies facing the sun to block out the heat – especially during peak sun hours.
- Use ceiling and other fans along with AC for better circulation of cool air. Just remember fans cool people, not rooms – so remember to turn them off when the room is vacant.
- Run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it’s cooler outside.
- Cook with a microwave, crock pot or barbecue outside whenever possible.
For additional tips on saving energy and money, visit the Eversource website.