Summer. A beautiful season for outdoor fun, and relaxation. However, when you see how much money your air conditioning costs, you might want to get rid of it.
Save on Air Conditioning in the Summer
While this thought is likely a fleeting one as you realize how crucial air conditioning is on the hottest days of the summer, you can find ways to save on air conditioning.
Enjoy Cool Outdoor Activities
When you’re sitting in your house watching television or cooking dinner in the summer, air conditioning saves your life. Instead of pressing that button, shut the TV off and head outside to cool down. Going to the beach for a swim can keep you cooler and exposed to fresh air. Head outside! Working outside, or cooking on the grill offers breezes to keep you cooler.
Consider Other Cooling Options
Sometimes, you simply need to cool down the house. Opening up windows, especially if you have a cross-breeze, is an excellent way to reduce the temperature in your house. Opening windows offers you an opportunity to connect with nature as well. Instead of feeling cooped up in the house, you’re inviting nature in.
You could also look into ceiling fans for rooms in the house that don’t get as warm. A humidifier won’t really cool down a room, but it can help break up the stuffiness on a hot day.
Change the Settings
If you’re running your air conditioner at the highest settings, you’re wasting more money. Consider turning the temperature up just a little bit. Raising the temperature in small increments can help you acclimate. Also, you can use the energy-saver mode on your unit.
Many air conditioners also come with timers. For example, the house may be cool in the morning, but you can program the air conditioner to turn on as the warmth of the afternoon starts so your pets can stay cool when you’re away.
Practice Energy-Saving Strategies
While you might be tempted to leave each window unit in the house running on the hottest days of the year, doing so wastes both energy and money. When you leave a room, turn the unit off. As long as you have a unit that’s the appropriate strength for cooling the room, you should feel a nice cool down shortly after you put the air conditioner back on.
Air conditioning can take up a tremendous amount of your budget in the summer. With some effective strategies, you can reduce those costs and stay cool.
About the Writer: Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
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