Summer may be winding down, but the heat hasn’t let up everywhere just yet. Across much of the US, late-season heat waves are keeping air conditioners running long after peak summer has passed. That relief comes at a cost, though. Nonstop cooling can send electricity bills soaring, and for many households, the expense can feel overwhelming.
The good news is there are smarter ways to stay comfortable without blowing your budget. Small changes around the house, from adjusting your thermostat wisely to blocking out hot air with weatherstripping, can add up to noticeable savings. Even something as simple as using ceiling fans effectively or setting up a smart plug can reduce the strain on your AC.
Before you resign yourself to another month of sky-high bills, try these expert-backed tips for keeping your home cooler through the last stretch of hot weather. A few easy adjustments now can help lower your costs and make the transition into fall a little easier.
1. Sign up for an energy audit
If your home isn’t brand new, the cold air inside is probably seeping out through doors and windows with spotty seals, a poorly insulated attic and other locations of sneaky cracks.
To see how well your home is holding in the cold, sign up for a home energy audit with your utility provider or a local contractor. A certified home energy rater or auditor will check your home for leaks and recommend the best way to make your home more energy-efficient.
Don’t want to spring for an audit? You can do a DIY audit instead. Stand outside your home and run your hand around the windows and doors. Can you feel the cold air escaping? If you do, caulk around leaky windows and add insulation around doors.
2. Get a smart thermostat
If you haven’t upgraded to a smart thermostat — such as one by Ecobee or Nest — it might be time to make a change. Smart thermostats can regulate heating and cooling when you’re not home to save money. Plus, you can adjust the settings remotely using an app on your phone or via voice commands. Here’s our list of the best smart thermostats to help you make the best decision for your home.
3. Check the placement of your thermostat
Thermostat placement can play a big part in how well your air conditioner works. If you put the thermostat on a wall right next to a hot window, for instance, your air conditioner will kick on much more often than it needs to because your thermostat will think the room is hotter than it actually is. Here’s how to pick the perfect wall for your thermostat and the ideal temperature you should set it to. You can also consider a smart thermostat that comes with extra room sensors, allowing it to keep track of the temperature throughout your home.
4. Close the blinds
A window letting in the hot sun won’t just heat up your thermostat, it’ll heat you up, too. During the warmest part of the day, close your blinds to keep out the sun. It can also help insulate your windows, which stops the cold air from escaping. There are also special insulating blinds, curtains and drapes that can keep your home even cooler.
A fan can help save on cooling costs.
5. Try a ceiling fan
You don’t always need to amp up the AC to feel cooler. Using a ceiling fan can make a room feel cooler, enough that you can increase the thermostat temperature by 4 degrees “with no reduction in comfort.” If you want to get high-tech, you can install a smart ceiling fan that connects to an app and automatically adjusts based on schedules you create. Just make sure your fan is rotating counterclockwise in the summer to get the most benefit.
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6. Increase the temperature
To save the most money, always set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can comfortably stand. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to keep your AC at the right temperature. You can program the unit to hold at higher temperatures while you’re at work and cool down right before you get home.
You can save 10% a year on your cooling bills by setting your thermostat just 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit higher for 8 hours each day, according to the Nebraska Energy Office. The US Department of Energy recommends aiming for an indoor temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at home. If 78 degrees isn’t doable for you, even a small change in temperature can knock your energy bill down by up to 3% annually.
For more energy savings, explore our home sustainability cheat sheet full of eco-friendly tips and read about how you can save money by unplugging certain appliances when not using them.
