Fixes to the Common Mistakes That Increase Your Summer Energy Bills
Whether your home utilizes solar panels or not, reducing energy use during a summer in The Valley is always a good idea. Reducing your energy use (without sacrificing the usual comforts of home) not only reduces your monthly costs, but it can also improve the life expectancy of your air conditioner, reduce your overall carbon footprint, and if you have not yet “gone solar” it will reduce the number of solar panels required to power your home once you do pull the trigger on your own renewable energy!
Here are a few tips on how to lower your electric bill in the summer, moving your home towards greater comfort and sustainability.
1. Switch to Programmable Thermostats
It’s no secret that your cooling system uses the majority of the energy required to keep your home comfortable during the summer. Reducing your AC usage as much as possible is essential to reducing your energy use and related costs, so why not start with programming your thermostat?
Programmable, smart, and wifi-enabled thermostats can be set to reflect your in-home schedule, adjusting the thermostat settings when you know for sure you will be out of your home. Plus, some thermostats will automatically learn from the basic habits of you and your family, adjusting in real time to your home cooling needs and maximizing efficiency.
2. Adjust Your Thermostat Settings 
Yes, we told you you won’t have to sacrifice your home comfort to save money this summer. But when you take into account the fact that you save about 1% on your energy bill for every degree you turn up your thermostat, would you be willing to see if upping your thermostat by 5ºF would be doable? Sure, this might make your home a little warmer, but keep reading to learn ways you can stay cool, for less.
3. Run Your Ceiling Fans
One reason your AC uses so much energy is that it is removing heat from your living spaces and then blowing cold air into your home. But what if you could maximize on that cold air by making it feel cooler than it actually is? Running your ceiling fans in the rooms you are occupying will circulate the cold air coming from your vents and decrease the temperatures you feel on your actual skin. You may not see a temperature drop on your thermostat, but you’ll feel the difference!
4. Keep Up With AC Maintenance
If it ain’t broke, why fix it, right? Unfortunately, small inefficiencies will develop over time in your AC unit, and they can be hard to detect. Keeping up with your AC maintenance—at least once a year and preferably right before prime heating season—will ensure your AC is not causing an above-average summer electric bill. Plus, it will ensure a longer lifespan for your equipment and reduce the risk of an AC emergency in the middle of summer.
5. Insulate and Air Seal Your Home
Your home likely has some form of insulation, and when your home was built, the contractors doing the work did their best to keep your home airtight. However, it has been estimated that over 90% of homes are underinsulated, and the average home has enough air leakage to equate to leaving one window open at all times!
Many homeowners in Arizona don’t realize that insulation can actually keep their homes cooler in the summer by preventing the outside heat from penetrating through the attic. This allows you and your AC to have total control over your indoor temperatures and is a great way to lower cooling costs in the summer.
Start Saving Money on Electricity With Solar!
From helping you reduce your energy consumption before you install solar, to sizing, installing, monitoring, and maintaining your residential solar PV panels, SouthFace Solar & Electric has the expertise you need. If you are considering using solar powered energy in your home here in the greater Phoenix area, schedule a free solar quote with our team today and save even more on your summer cooling costs.
