Reducing air conditioning costs in summer

We all look forward to the heat of summer, but at some point you’re going to have to turn on that air conditioning, so as temperatures rise, so does your electric bill.

There are some things you can do to beat the high temperatures and that high bill that don’t take a lot of time or money.

Did you know a ceiling fan or any kind of fan can make a room feel six or seven degrees cooler because of the wind-chill effect?

The fan doesn’t actually cool the room, but it helps disperse the air conditioned air more efficiently so you could raise your thermostat by three or four degrees and still be comfortable with the circulating air.

For right around $100 you can install a programmable thermostat that allows you to set the temperature you want. In addition, you can set the programming to be warmer while no one is home and then cool down before you get home, saving you money.

With a programmable thermostat, the air conditioning only runs long enough to keep the temperature at what you’ve chosen, say 72 - 75 degrees. Rather than running all day, running up that electric bill, the air conditioning will cycle on and off to keep the proper temperature.

Be sure you have done the maintenance on your air conditioner, too. Something as simple as changing, cleaning or replacing the filters can cut your energy consumption by as much as 15-percent.

If you have central air conditioning, be sure the floor vents aren’t covered by furniture. The system will work twice as hard to maintain a cool temperature if only some of the vents are clear.

Closing your curtains, blinds or shades during the heat of the day is a simple trick that will drop the heat inside your home by as much as 45-percent. The lighter the color the more they will reflect the sun’s rays.

You might even consider buying insulated or reflective shades as they will also save you money during winter.

In Wyoming where the air is more dry, a lot of homes have “swamp coolers” rather than central air or window air conditioning units.

There is a definite difference in the two with the swamp cooler putting more moisture in the air. Another difference is its more economical to close up all the windows with an air conditioner, whereas opening a window a bit on the opposite side of the house with a swamp cooler will help the air circulate better.

Of course, with a swamp cooler you can still use some of the above tips to lower your bill, too, like closing the curtains and using a ceiling fan.

Summer and grilling definitely go together as cooking outside stops you from heating up the house by baking or cooking inside. If you must do something like baking, don’t do it during the heat of the day as it heats up your home, making your air conditioning work overtime to cool things down.

A crockpot and microwave can be your best friends with summertime cooking, too.