Relief from the heat can be hard to come by in August, when the mercury tends to rise to uncomfortably high temperatures. In times like these, many homeowners consume excess energy, and incur higher-than-normal costs.

“People have the power to lower energy costs even on the hottest days of the year,” says Brian Rich, chief information officer and senior vice president of Customer Experience of Consumers Energy.

One of the simplest ways to do that, Rich says, is to raise the air conditioning thermostat by a few degrees when the house is unoccupied. When members of the household are home, Rich recommends keeping the temperature at a constant 78 degrees.

Consider cooling only areas that see use, Rich adds. Keep all doors and registers in these rooms closed—doing so will not only prevent cool air from escaping, but also keep the air conditioning unit from consuming too much energy.

Closing window treatments during the daytime is also wise. Rich says blocking the rays of the sun when they’re at their strongest noticeably cools the home, and also spares the air conditioning unit the power needed to cool a sun-filled house.

Avoid using heat-producing appliances, as well, Rich says, especially at peak temperatures during the day. This includes the stove and the dryer.

Lastly, consider having your air conditioning unit tuned up. At minimum, clean the filter regularly, Rich advises.

Source: Consumers Energy
 

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