Every true Floridian knows that summers in The Sunshine State can be punishing. Florida is beautiful, but whoever said that the entire state is a paradise never actually spent all his or her summers here. And while air conditioning makes life bearable during the hottest months of the year, you probably wouldn’t be able to bear the astronomical energy bill you’re going to receive by the end of the summer.
Still, there are ways to save money on your summer AC costs in Florida. Here are some of them.
Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher
When it’s scorching hot, we all would like to set our thermostat at 70 degrees to keep cool. That, however, could double your energy costs. Stick to the higher and ultimately cheaper 78 degrees. It should be cool enough to keep you and your family comfortable.
Get it made in the shade
Intense sunlight is going to hit your house during the summer and make it hotter, which means your air conditioner has to work harder to keep you cool. You can, however, reduce the effect of direct sunlight on your home by planting trees and shrubs that could provide shade, particularly on the eastern and western parts of your residence. Drapes, curtains, and Venetian blinds should also help keep some of the sunlight out.
Give your AC a break and use fans for milder weather
Summers in Florida are hot, but there are days when the weather is cooler than usual. On such days, use fans at home because they use much less energy than your central AC unit.
Ceiling fans are life and energy savers
You can reduce your air conditioning costs in the summer by 15% to 25% by simultaneously running your ceiling fans and air conditioner. Just remember to set the thermostat to 80 or 81 degrees instead of the usual 78 degrees.
Keep your AC air filter clean
Dirty air filters can lead to restricted airflow, which, in turn, could force your unit to work so much harder just to keep your home cool. So check your AC air filter regularly to see if they need cleaning or replacing.
Keep the lights off during the day
Lights, especially traditional incandescent bulbs, contribute a lot to the heat in any room. Make a habit of turning off the lights when they're not in use, or don't turn on any of the lights during the day if you don't really need them.
Cook outside
Traditional ovens also cause a lot of heat buildup. So instead of cooking inside the home and making it harder to cool, try cooking on a grill outside. If grilling is not your thing, you can always microwave food instead.
Cool your home, not the entire neighborhood
It would be great for energy savings if your entire home is properly insulated. Holes, cracks, and gaps should be sealed tight to keep the cool climate inside your home constant. You wouldn’t want any of that expensive cool air escaping through those gaps and raising your energy bill in the process.
Follow the tips given above, and you will see your energy bills in Florida drop.