How to Reduce your Air Conditioning Costs

Small changes around the house can significantly reduce your air conditioning costs. Make over your home and your electric bill with these money-saving tips:

• Keep lamps and other heat producers away from the thermostat. They’ll cause your air conditioner to run more than it needs to

• Upgrade to CFL bulbs. They generate significantly less heat than incandescent bulbs

• Turn off lights when not in use. Even CFL bulbs produce some heat

• Minimize the use of your oven. Microwaves, crockpots and toaster ovens are great warm-weather stand-ins

• Wait until after the sun goes down to run your dishwasher, dryer and other heat-producing appliances

• Line-dry your clothes to avoid using the dryer all together

• Plant for shade near your condenser unit. Cooler outdoor air means your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to cool your home

• Keep curtains and blinds closed during the heat of the day

• Turn off electronics that aren’t in use. Anything that draws power also produces heat

• Install reflective window tint on windows that get a lot of sun to minimize heat absorption

• Get a yearly maintenance check of your system and change/clean the filter regularly. A well-tuned system will run more efficiently