As the summer in St. Louis gets into full swing, both the temperature and your energy bills will start to rise. The experts at Galmiche & Sons have put together these 6 energy saving tips to help you cut down on electricity costs during the summer months.
For more tips and to make sure your AC system is in top working order for efficient and reliable cooling this summer, contact the heating & air conditioning experts at Galmiche & Sons in St. Louis today!
Energy Saving Tips for Summer
1) Improve Air Circulation
When air is circulated around the home, it creates a slight wind chill factor. Using ceiling fans when you are in a room can make it much more comfortable, but remember to turn them off when you leave the room as fans cool people not rooms. An additional energy saving tip is to reverse the fan direction when moving from heating to cooling season.
2) Reduce Generated Heat
This is another one of those super simple energy saving tips. All appliances and lights create heat when they are being used, even when in standby mode. When not in use, these lights and appliances should be turned off. Lighting fixtures can greatly benefit from the addition of more energy efficient LED or compact fluorescent bulbs, which create less heat and therefore keep your air conditioning unit from working as hard.
3) Improve Insulation
Many people think upgrading insulation is just one of those energy saving tips for the colder weather. However, it works both ways! If you upgrade your home’s insulation, you can find that it will remain much cooler during the summer as the cold air from your AC system is retained inside rather than escaping. The first area to tackle is the upstairs attic – since heat rises, these tend to be much warmer than the outside air during the summer.
4) Provide Shading
Another great energy saving tip is that the use of tall trees planted around the home can protect your home from the harsh rays of the sun. Deciduous trees are the best to use, as during autumn they shed their leaves and allow your home to be warmed by the winter sun. Artificial shading such as awnings, window shades, or window screens can also provide good sun protection.
5) Utilize Reflective Coatings
One of the more underused energy saving tips is to use reflective coatings that prevent many of the sun’s rays being absorbed by your home. These coatings can be applied to roofing or windows to reflect the sun’s rays and can help to keep your home cooler during the summer months.
A note to this energy saving tip is the coating should not be used on southernmost facing sides of your house or windows. During the cooler months, the warmth that can be received by the winter sun can help to warm your house at this time of year.
6) Remove Trapped Heat
Homes can actually become much warmer than the air outside due to lack of air movement. The easiest energy saving tip when not using your air conditioner is that simply opening a couple of windows can be more than enough to get the air moving and create a breeze. Attics can be the largest problem area as they trap all the heat from the sun. As the roof is the largest exposed part of your home, one of the best energy saving tips is to have it ventilated. The downside is that if your home is not correctly sealed, you could be drawing the cooled air out from inside your home. Therefore, these systems have to be properly designed and installed by professionals to give you the greatest benefit.
Learn More Energy Saving Tips for Your St. Louis Home
If you are looking for more energy saving tips to reduce your electricity bill during the summer months, contact us today! You can speak to one of our heating & air conditioning experts in St. Louis by calling 314-993-1110.
