Beat the Heat, Not Your Budget
Summer Energy Savings Tips
I absolutely love summer in Nashville! There are days when it feels like the whole city is out and about, enjoying a neighborhood stroll, dinner al fresco, or listening to live music under the stars.
What I don’t love is the increase in my monthly electric bill that can last right through October with our temperate climate.
So what can we do to ease this burden? The best place to start is with a simple energy assessment of your home to determine where you’re losing energy and where you can save.
Locate & Fill Air Leaks: Reducing drafts can improve your energy efficiency by up to 20% a year! Take a walk around the outside of your home and look for potential gaps in the foundation, especially where 2 types of building materials meet. Indoors, locate gaps along the baseboards or the edge of the flooring and at junctures of the walls and ceilings, caulk and plug these gaps. Make sure your windows are sealed properly and that your fireplace damper is closed.
Inspect Your AC System: Cooling your home accounts for 50% of your total electricity bill and these units work overtime in the summer months so proper maintenance is key. Remember to change air filters inside the home to allow proper air flow.
Inspect Your Crawl Space/Attic: An air duct may have gotten disconnected or damaged in your crawl space or attic causing the air to leak out into open space.
Take a Look at Your Window Treatments: South facing windows get more heat than north facing ones, so can you close curtains or blinds in these areas during the hottest parts of the day? A strategically placed tree or tall bush outside these windows will also help.
Be Mindful of Lighting’s Power Usage: Consider replacing regular lightbulbs with energy efficient LED options, turn lights off in rooms when not in use, and consider dimmer switches.
Upgrade Your Thermostat: Consider replacing a regular thermostat with a smart thermostat to create a predictable routine for your home that will automatically adjust the temperature up when you leave, and pre-cool the house when you’re on the way home.
Request Average Electricity Billing: Consider asking your electricity provider for budget or average billing to smooth out your cost over the year, providing a more predictable monthly payment.
Want more information? Feel free to reach out!
