Florida can get chilly during the deepest months of winter, but the worst is behind us, and the average daily temperature is now slated to rise five degrees every month until July. Living in Florida, you probably love the weather and the ability to spend time on the beach and outdoors. Still, the heat can undoubtedly make your home uncomfortable on sweltering days. This heat will bring with it increased use of your AC system, increasing your electricity bill dramatically. Some of this price increase is unavoidable and one of the costs of living in this climate, but there are tips that Florida homeowners can employ to decrease their energy usage without sweating in their homes as the weather continues to heat up. Here are some cooling tips every homeowner should know.
Tips To Stay Cool While Saving Money and Electricity
Keep Cool Air In and Hot Air Out: On a hot spring or summer day in Florida, the initial blast of cool air on your face when you arrive home is one of the best feelings in the world. This is only possible if your house is capable of trapping the cold air coming from your AC system. Areas like exterior doors, windows, and attics are prime locations for hot air to sneak into your home if the seals are not airtight. There is no reason to spend money cooling down your home if you are losing this cool air to drafty windows.
Utilize Fans: Fans do not decrease the temperature in your home but instead move air over your skin and help the molecular-level process of sweat evaporation to increase your body’s ability to cool itself. Fans are also extremely energy efficient. In fact, continuous use of an overhead ceiling, 24/7/365, can cost as little as 30 dollars for an entire year. If ceiling fans or other plug-type fans are enough to keep you cool, switching off your A/C during the hottest parts of the day can lead to massive savings and much lower energy usage.
Upgrade Your AC and Thermostat: Despite the initial costs associated with upgrading your cooling system, the added energy efficiency and customizability can lead to savings in the long term, especially if you intend to live in your home far into the future. Upgrading your A/C system has two main benefits. First, newer models can cool down your house more efficiently, using less power and reducing your bills. This is something most people understand. However, even more, savings can come from the ‘smarter’ ways newer cooling systems provide cooling. Newer A/C units and smart thermometers can work in tandem to only cool certain areas of the home during certain parts of the day. For example, you can set automatic scheduling that allows the temperature to rise during the workday while you are not at home but cools down again before you arrive. You can feel the cool air welcome you home after a long day without sacrificing the increased cost of running your system when no one is home.
Change Your Habits: Even small changes in your AC usage can lead to huge savings. If you are set in stone when it comes to your preferred AC temperature, try a weeklong experiment where you raise the target temperature by a few degrees. Every temperature increase above 70 degrees can decrease energy usage by up to 2-3%, so even a small sacrifice in your levels of comfort can be made up for by an increase in your pocketbook.
Promise Electric can help identify areas of your home that are increasing your energy costs by conducting a comprehensive electrical inspection. Promise Electric offers residential services to Sarasota homeowners – and we are happy to come out to help you with your electrical needs.
