During the summer months, we're all looking for ways to save energy and money without sacrificing comfort. From keeping window blinds closed and running certain appliances at night to optimizing thermostat temperatures throughout the day, these tips can help you beat the heat without breaking the bank. Whether you're a new homeowner settling into your first place or simply looking for ways to keep your house cool in summer, these summer energy saving tips will help you stay comfortable while learning how to lower your electric bill in summer when temperatures climb.
1. Built-In Energy Efficiency
We build Starlight homes with energy efficiency top of mind. Between new, energy-friendly appliances and quality construction with sealed insulation and superior airflow, owning a Starlight home makes saving on your energy bill easy. By adding a few mindful practices to your home life during the hotter season, you can beat the heat without breaking a sweat.
2. Use Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans take much less energy than air conditioning units and can make a room feel up to eight degrees cooler. However, they don’t actually cool the room temperature at all. So to get the most benefit out of your fans, only turn on the ceiling fan in a room that’s in use. Running a ceiling fan in an empty room will only add to your energy bill.
Pro tip: during the summer, make sure your ceiling fans rotate counterclockwise to create a downdraft of cooler air. If your fan is spinning clockwise, it will create an updraft and push warm air down.
3. Add Window Treatments
Using blinds, shades, or curtains is another easy way to keep your energy bill in check. When the sun is at its peak, keeping your curtains or blinds shut can help keep your house cooler. However, the effectiveness of curtains will depend upon the fabric type. Choosing medium-colored draperies with white plastic backings can reduce heat gain by up to 33%.
4. Avoid Using the Stove on Hot Days
When temperatures are soaring, consider cooking outside on a grill or making a meal that doesn’t require a stove or oven. When you use the stove, you only add more heat to your home and work against your AC unit. If you need to use your stove, cook during the early morning or night, and use your microwave during peak heat.
5. Do Some Household Chores at Night
If you can, try waiting to run your dishwasher or dryer until nighttime when temperatures are cooler. These appliances will make your house warmer while they run, so by waiting for nightfall, you won’t put as much strain on your AC unit. Your electricity rate may even be lower at night than during the day, which can help you save on energy costs.
6. Optimize Your Thermostat
Having a tight temperature schedule on your thermostat can be one of your utility bill's most significant saving factors. During the morning and night, set the temperature lower, but during the afternoon or while you're out of the house, set your thermostat higher than normal to reduce energy usage. A programmable thermostat, installed in every Starlight home, can help you to do this automatically.
How to Lower Your Electric Bill in Summer
Combining these summer energy saving tips can lead to noticeable savings on your monthly utility costs. The biggest savings typically come from giving your AC less work to do, which means closed window treatments during peak sun hours, ceiling fans only in occupied rooms, cooking outside or with smaller appliances on hot days, and a programmable thermostat that adjusts when you're not home. Layered together, these habits show you how to lower your electric bill in summer without sacrificing comfort, especially in a newer home built with energy-efficient materials and appliances from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What direction should my ceiling fan turn in summer?
A: Set your ceiling fan to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This creates a downdraft that pushes cool air down into the room and helps you feel up to eight degrees cooler without changing the actual temperature. If your fan is spinning clockwise, it's pulling warm air up and pushing it back down, which works against your AC.
Q: What's the best thermostat setting for summer?
A: The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to around 78°F when you're home and awake, and a few degrees higher when you're asleep or away from the house. A programmable thermostat (standard in every Starlight home) handles these adjustments automatically, which is one of the most effective ways to manage your summer energy use.
Q: How can I save energy at home in summer?
A: The biggest summer energy savings come from a few small habits: keep blinds and curtains closed during peak sun hours, run heat-generating appliances like the dishwasher and dryer at night, only run ceiling fans in occupied rooms, avoid using the stove during the hottest parts of the day, and program your thermostat to adjust when you're away or asleep.
Q: How can I lower my AC bill in summer?
A: Lowering your AC bill comes down to reducing how hard your AC has to work. Close curtains when the sun is at its peak, run heat-generating appliances at night, set your thermostat higher when you're away or asleep, and make sure ceiling fans are spinning counterclockwise to push cool air down. Newer construction with sealed insulation also keeps cool air inside more efficiently than older homes.
Q: What are some energy efficient home tips for summer?
A: Beyond daily habits, the biggest energy efficient home tips for summer come down to the home itself. Newer construction with sealed insulation, energy-friendly appliances, programmable thermostats, and quality airflow design (all standard in every Starlight home) is built to handle summer heat efficiently from day one, which means lower utility bills before you change a single setting.
Owning a Starlight home gives you the opportunity to save big on your utility bill during the summer and the winter. To take the first step in the homebuying process, get in touch to schedule an appointment with one of our Home Guides.
