Cut Summer Utility Bills
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010Take a chunk out of your energy bills by monitoring the use of certain appliances.
High utility bills seem to be a major concern during the cold winter months when heat and light usage may be higher than other times of the year. But summer tends to be another season that sees massive spikes in utility costs. Here are some quick ways to cut costs.
Besides shutting lights off when they’re not in use, utilizing fluorescent lights will save more money, reports the Santa Rosa Press Gazette. Fluorescent lights may be more expensive to purchase, but they last 10 times longer than incandescent lamps.
During the warmer months, an air conditioner can drain your wallet.
“During the summer, your air conditioner is the biggest user of electricity,” says the paper. “For many homes, it accounts for more than half of the summer electric bill.”
When not at home, the paper recommends turning the thermostat higher to save energy on cooling costs. Electricity costs between 3 percent and 5 percent more for every degree the temperature is kept below 78. Allowing the home to be a bit warmer while no one is home is a cost-saving tip that people won’t even notice.
Using a fan also helps cool the air without the expense of an air conditioner. Operating an energy efficient model will bring your bill down even lower. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy say that energy star rated fans are 50 percent more efficient than standard ones.








