Tips To Lower Your Energy Bill This Summer 

It’s that time of year again! The Ontario heat is back and although you may not realize all the work your AC unit is taking on to keep your home cool, your energy bill might! 

As outdoor temperatures rise, it puts pressure on your air conditioner to effectively cool the home. The harder your unit works, the more energy it expounds trying to meet its target temperature, which also increases your energy bills. This is an unfortunate reality of Canada’s polarizing weather, however, there are small changes you can make to limit energy bill increases.  

This is the perfect time to create a game plan for saving energy this summer and this blog post will outline some of the ways you can offset the season’s rising temperatures.  

1. Fans 

Utilizing fans within your home can help keep you cool during the summer. Although fans do not necessarily reduce the overall temperature of the home, they cool people in the space via the wind chill effect. This is important because it means you can increase the thermostat setting by 4 degrees without reducing your comfort level.  

Fans can be purchased in a stand, box and ceiling form. Fans are a small investment and can help reduce energy costs over time. Just remember to turn them off when you aren’t in the room.  

2. Thermostat Settings 

The Department of Energy found that setting your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer can save homeowners up to 10% in energy costs each year. This may be too warm for some people and in that case, you can adjust it lower. Keep in mind, for every degree you raise your thermostat above 72 degrees, you save up to 3% of your cooling expenses.  

You can also consider getting a programmable thermostat, so that you can set a warmer setting when you’re not home and automatically start cooling your home right before you get back. There are also thermostats on the market that connect directly to your smartphone, tablet and desktop computer, which can help you control your air conditioner from wherever you are. If you are interested in upgrading your existing thermostat reach out to one of the friendly professionals here at Energy Clean for more information!  

3. Upgrade Your Air conditioner  

If your existing AC unit is old, it might be wise to consider updating your cooling system to a newer unit. New HVAC technology has made way for today’s heating and cooling systems to be much more energy-efficient. When inquiring about a new air conditioner, look for Energy Star certified systems that have high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) ratings.  

4. Close the Blinds, Windows & Check your Seals 

A common misconception is that opening windows will allow air flow into the home and increase the temperatures. But with the Canadian hot and humid summers, this will only increase the humidity levels and bring hot air into the home. Take a stroll around your home and ensure that all of the blinds and windows are closed and sealed. You can also add weather stripping to your doors and windows to act as another line of defence against the warm outside air.  

5. Indoor Humidity 

As outdoor summer temperatures increase, so do the humidity levels. High humidity levels in your home could result in an array of problems but specifically higher indoor temperatures regardless of how low you set your thermostat. AC units can expound a lot of energy on combating the effects of high humidity and this is why it’s important to monitor humidity levels.  

An effective way to counter-balance the effects of humidity within your home is to consider investing in a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers can be bought as a stand-alone unit and placed in a room. However, dehumidifiers can also be installed directly onto your HVAC unit by one of Energy Cleans friendly technicians. This method allows you to manage both temperature and humidity levels in your home at once. Ultimately by monitoring your home’s humidity levels, you can ensure that your AC unit is not wasting extra energy on combating humidity and cooling the home.   

To learn more about indoor humidity, how to spot a problem and strategies for dehumidification, please read our blog post “Humidity & Indoor Air Quality: Problems And Solutions” for more information.  

6. Unit Maintenance  

It is important to schedule seasonal maintenance for your air conditioner and other systems, to ensure they are working at their best. When units are left without regular maintenance by an HVAC professional it allows for small problems to go unnoticed. These problems can cause your unit to break down, but they can also result in your unit expounding more energy to cool your home. Energy Clean has a team of experienced technicians available to service your unit and ensure it is running at its optimal performance. 

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Scott Tizzard

President & Founder

Since 2013 I have been helping Canadians by providing the best in class heating and cooling solutions for their homes and businesses. I am hands on with my business and take pride in our work and craftsmanship. We look forward to taking care of your needs. Feel free to contact me directly.

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