Beat the Heat: Smart Ways to Cut Summer Energy Bills and Stay Comfortable
When summer temperatures soar, your energy bills don’t have to. If your home feels stuffy, hot spots are forming in certain rooms, or your AC seems to run non-stop, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are simple, effective ways to cool your home without cranking up the costs. Here’s how to beat the heat—and the high bills—this summer.
1. Seal the Leaks and Insulate the Gaps
Cool air escapes through even the smallest cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and attic hatches. Use weatherstripping, door sweeps, and caulking to seal leaks. And don’t forget about insulation—many homes, especially older ones, are under-insulated in attics or walls, leading to heat gain and uneven temperatures.
2. Upgrade to Smart Thermostats
A programmable or smart thermostat helps regulate your home’s temperature efficiently, learning your schedule and reducing energy use when you’re away or asleep. Set it to a higher temperature (around 78°F) when you’re home and even higher when you’re gone.
3. Use Ceiling Fans Strategically
Fans don’t cool the air, but they circulate it to make you feel cooler. Make sure your ceiling fans are set to spin counterclockwise in the summer. This pushes air downward and creates a wind-chill effect that can make a room feel 4 degrees cooler.
4. Block Out the Sun
Sunlight streaming through your windows increases indoor temperatures fast. Close blinds, shades, or curtains during the hottest parts of the day—especially on south- and west-facing windows. For extra protection, consider reflective or thermal-backed curtains.
5. Service Your AC System
If your AC is struggling to keep up, it could be due to dirty filters, clogged coils, or low refrigerant. An annual HVAC tune-up ensures your system is running efficiently. Change air filters every 1–3 months during the cooling season to keep airflow strong.
6. Avoid Heat-Building Activities
Ovens, dryers, and even incandescent bulbs generate heat. Try grilling outside, doing laundry at night, and switching to LED lighting to keep internal temperatures down.
7. Get a Home Energy Audit
Still feeling warm spots or seeing energy bills climb even after trying these tips? A professional home energy audit can help you find the root causes of energy loss—from hidden duct leaks to poor insulation, inefficient appliances, or air sealing problems. Think of it as a health check-up for your home: you’ll get tailored recommendations to boost comfort and cut costs long-term.
Whether you’re in a newer build or an older home, an energy audit is the best way to identify what’s really going on behind the walls—and prioritize improvements that make the biggest impact.
Stay Cool, Save Money
Summer comfort doesn’t have to come at a premium. With a few upgrades and the insight from a home energy audit, you can keep your home cooler, your energy bills lower, and your family more comfortable all season long.