California summers can heat up quickly, and as temperatures rise, so do electricity bills. Luckily, there are plenty of simple ways to optimize your energy usage while staying cool in the summer heat. In this blog, we explore practical tips to help you save energy and keep your electric bill low in the summer without compromising comfort.
Schedule AC Maintenance
With the summer heat, you want your air conditioning system to be in tip-top shape. An inefficient air conditioner will not only fail to cool your home effectively, but can also lead to significant energy waste that raises your electricity bill.
The best way to optimize your AC usage is to keep it well-maintained. Scheduling maintenance and changing the air filters will ensure it is functioning as efficiently as possible when you need it most and will help keep your electricity bill down.
Install a Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat in your home can help automate and optimize your home’s energy efficiency. You can program your smart thermostat to follow a schedule based on your daily routine. For example, you can program it so that while the house is empty or residents are asleep, it automatically switches to the best energy-saving temperature.
Many smart thermostats provide reports on your energy usage. This can help you identify areas where you might save even more energy by adjusting your settings or habits.
Unplug Unused Devices
Any device that is plugged in to an outlet will drain energy, even when it’s not in use. Consider unplugging all unused devices, chargers, and appliances to help minimize energy waste. This way, you can dedicate more energy toward keeping the house cool and comfortable, without worrying about your electricity bill skyrocketing.
Minimize Oven Usage
Ovens use a lot of energy and produce a lot of heat. One way to reduce your energy bill this summer is to minimize your oven usage and use an outdoor grill instead. Anything you can bake in your oven can also be baked on a gas or charcoal grill, without adjusting the cooking time at all.
If an outdoor grill isn’t an option, consider only using your kitchen oven during cooler parts of the day. Both solutions will help keep things at a more comfortable temperature inside your home, so your AC won’t have to work overtime and drive up your electric bill even more.
Use Ceiling Fans Efficiently
Ceiling fans help cool down the house and save energy by circulating the air and creating a wind chill effect. This helps you stay cool while relying less on air conditioning, which can offset electricity costs. We recommend using Energy Star-certified fans, which are proven to be more efficient than alternatives without this certification.
Use LED Lightbulbs
Every bit of heat contributes to the overall temperature of a room, even lightbulbs. This is especially true for incandescent and halogen bulbs, which use heat to create light and waste a lot of energy by doing so.
LED light bulbs emit much less heat compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs, and they are also a more efficient lighting option that requires less energy. So, by upgrading to LED, you’re reducing heat and saving energy that can go to other places, such as cooling the house.
Install Blackout Curtains
Direct sunlight that enters your house through open windows can significantly raise the temperature of your home, especially in the summer. As the name suggests, blackout curtains block sunlight from coming through windows altogether. They also add another layer of insulation, trapping cool air inside and reducing the amount of heat that can radiate into your home.
This will help keep your home cooler and lessen the demand on your air conditioner and your wallet.
Utilize Natural Ventilation
If you live in an area that gets cooler in the evenings, consider leaving windows or screen doors open to let in a nice cross breeze. Utilizing natural ventilation helps circulate the air by letting heat escape and cool air come inside, which can significantly lower the temperature in your house. This means you can turn off the AC for a while and cool down your house at the same time, essentially for free.
Contact the Trusted Sonoma County Electricians at Schafer Electric Today
Electric bills can skyrocket during hotter months, but with the right strategies, they don’t have to. By following the tips listed above, you can optimize your energy usage and keep your electricity bill low throughout the summer.
For years, Schafer Electric has been providing Sonoma County with top-notch electrical services. If you need a residential electrician, our friendly team of experts is here to help you find the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions for all your electrical needs. Contact us online or give us a call at (707) 545-3300 to connect with an expert over the phone today.