(COLORADO SPRINGS) — We’re all looking to beat the heat lately, but your wallet might be feeling it too. It’s likely your air conditioning is working overtime, costing you more on your utility bill.
Colorado Springs Utilities says we have access to natural air conditioning (AC), since it cools down at night. You can take advantage of this by opening your windows when you go to bed, or early in the morning. To help speed up this process, strategically place portable fans to move the cool air in, and the hot air out.
“Make sure that when the sun is on the windows, your windows have curtains or blinds closed, and that stops the solar radiation coming in and warming up the objects within your house.” said Doug Bursnall, Colorado Springs Utilities Senior Conservation Specialist.
Sealing or blocking drafty doors and windows can also help you stay cool. The Department of Energy says sealing gaps can save you up to 20% on heating and cooling.
“We do see spikes in people’s energy use during hot periods of the summer.” said Bursnall.
Regular AC maintenance helps it run more efficiently. For example, changing the filter can lower it’s energy use by 15%.
“The weeds may have grown up around your outside AC unit, so you might want to go out and cut those back so there’s good airflow over the coils on your AC.” said Bursnall.
Although it may sound counter intuitive, setting your thermostat higher at certain times can be unnoticeable. That’s because 70 can feel more like 65 when it’s 90 degrees out, and nature’s AC can keep you cool at night.
“When you’re not home, keep those curtains closed, keep the windows closed and turn off the ceiling fans, because they actually do generate some heat from the motors”
You can also double check which way your ceiling fans spin, since clockwise rotations can make it feel warmer.
“Ensuring that your house is well insulated so it doesn’t heat up as quick, and it can keep that cool air in there for longer, is the next best thing after those kind of, free activities.” said Bursnall.
Colorado Springs Utilities will give you money off of future bills (also known as rebates) for making energy saving improvements like upgrading your insulation, or adding a smart thermostat.
