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Georgia Power offers energy saving tips for summer
The temperature outside is heating up. Now is the best time to start thinking about ways to save on your electric bill. To help reduce your energy bill, try these helpful tips around your house all summer. Keep your cool:
- During the summer, your air conditioner is the biggest user of electricity. For many homes, it accounts for more than half of the summer electric bill.
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher and leave it there. You can immediately realize a 3 percent to 5 percent decrease in energy use for every degree you adjust the thermostat setting about you normal setting. A customer raising the thermostat from 73 to 78 degrees would save $20 per month on their average monthly bill of $95 to $120 during the summer, or about 17 percent.
- Set the thermostat even higher when at work or away from home for long periods of time, but no more that five degrees higher.
- Change or clean your air conditioner filter every 1-3 months, depending on the type of filter you have, to maximize the unit’s cooling potential. Dirty filters restrict airflow and reduce efficiency.
- Check your windows and doors for a tight fit. If you can see light, cobwebs or high levels of dust you probably have air leaks. Apply weather stripping or caulking if needed.
- Clear outside units of plants or brush so they can “breathe.”
Insulation:
- Increase attic insulation, which can save up to 30 percent on cooling and heating costs.
- Insulation is measured in R-value, which is a measure of resistance to heat flow. So the higher the R-value, the better the insulation value.
- Experts recommend you use an R-value of R-30 as a minimum in ceiling areas. Purchase a higher SEER rated unit when replacing cooling equipment or a heat pump. The higher the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating), the more efficient the unit. Minimum SEER ratings have increased recently to 13 SEER and Energy Star recommends a SEER rating of 14 for even higher energy savings.
Source: GA Power Company
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