Sunshine, outdoor time, BBQs—at Elara, we're summer obsessed, even though we know our favorite season often comes with higher energy bills. But don't despair and don't sit there sweltering! We've put together a few of our favorite tips and tricks for lowering your energy bills while still staying comfortable.
Yep, this one's almost too easy. Try keeping your home at 78 degrees when you're at home and turning it up a few degrees when you're away. While it may not be your optimal temp, it sure beats the shock of the outdoor-indoor transition from sweltering heat to ice cold air, and it has the added benefit of keeping your energy bill lower. Since every Elara home is a smart home, you can even set your thermostat remotely to adjust automatically without worrying about it.
Fans can be your best friends in the summer months. Try putting them in front of open windows if it cools down at night to get the fresh air circulating, or use them in conjunction with your AC to make warmer ambient temps more palatable.
Another simple solution—just closing the blinds during the hottest parts of the day can help keep your home cooler. It blocks out the sun's heat and helps insulate, so you don't have to rely as heavily on your air conditioning unit.
All of our homes already come equipped with modern, energy efficient appliances, so you can cross this one off your list! It's our standard to install appliances that use less energy than older models and that help reduce energy bills over time. We do recommend unplugging appliances when you're not using them so they don't vamp extra energy needlessly.
Dirty air filters can cause your air conditioning unit to work harder, using more energy in the process. Be sure to change your air filters regularly, so your AC can work efficiently and use less energy.
Reducing water usage can also help reduce energy bills. Taking shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets, and only running full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine are all ways to reduce water usage and lower energy bills.
Finally, try to use natural light as much as possible (particularly in the cooler morning and pre-dusk hours), and turn off lights when you're not in a room. It's a little thing, but it can definitely add up.
These tips are super simple to implement, and yet they can make a significant difference in your energy consumption and costs. Try them out and see how much you can save this summer!
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