SAHBA Home Hints
May 17, 2009
Save Money during Summer, Monitor Energy Use
Desert dwellers live through 100-degree temperatures and higher during summer months. But homeowners can find comfort inside while curbing higher utility bills.
Air conditioners, heat pumps and evaporative coolers can use a lot of electricity. By monitoring and maintaining them regularly, homeowners can cut summer electric bills.
“Raise the thermostat setting as much as you can without sacrificing comfort. For every degree you raise the setting, you can cut cooling bills by as much as 5%,” said Romi Carrell Wittman, Communications Services Director at Trico Electric Cooperative. “Seventy-eight to 80 degrees is great.”
Unit settings should be adjusted when a home is empty.
“When you leave for work, set the thermostat a few degrees higher. If you leave on vacation, set the thermostat up 10 degrees,” Wittman continued. “But be sure to keep in mind plants and pets when deciding exactly what temperature to select while you're away.”
Programmable thermostats are an inexpensive way to control A/C use. These units automatically adjust temperatures, allowing homeowners to better manage their electricity use.
All of these steps are great ways to reduce electricity use, but don't forget one important step: routine maintenance.
Unit maintenance done at the beginning of the season will ensure it runs at max efficiency all summer. For air conditioners, check the unit and change any filters. For evaporative coolers, change pads yearly. Also, double check to ensure water flows over the entire pad.
No matter how cutting-edge cooling units are, lack of insulation will allow cool air to escape. State-of-the-art windows lend a big hand in controlling a home's temperature. If replacement windows aren't in the budget, good weather-stripping can help lower cooling costs.
Tinting windows, especially those facing west, can keep the sun from warming the inside. An alternative to tinting is shutters, sunscreens, blinds or drapes.
Also, don't forget the little helpers. Fans circulate air and make a home feel cooler, plus they don't use much electricity. Another small fix is switching to Compact Florescent Lights (CFLs).
“CFLs don't put out the amount of heat a traditional bulb does,” said Wittman, a SAHBA member, “meaning you're not paying that extra electricity needed to power the bulb or the extra cooling required to compensate for the heat the light emits.”
Details: www.trico.coop.
SAHBA represents about 700 member businesses serving the residential construction industry in Pima and Cochise counties.
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