How to Save Money on Air Conditioning

The dog days of summer are here; for the past four weeks or so, much of the nation has been suffering with high temps, high humidity, and high heat indexes. Thank God for air conditioning, right?

Though literally (and metaphorically) a life-saver, air conditioning does some severe damage to summertime energy bills (according to MSN.com, the average American home spends 17%—about $375—on summer cooling). How can you save money while still being comfy and cool?

Here are a few ways to save money on air conditioning:
1. Adjust the temperature. To me, this is a no-brainer. A programmable thermostat (or even just remembering to adjust the temp before you leave the house for the day) can save a lot of money in the long run. After all, you won't be home to notice if it is cool or not. According to MSN, you should aim for 78 degrees when home, and adjust up and down a few degrees accordingly when you leave and return home.

2. Use only when necessary. My husband and I live in Minnesota, which means that we spend a good 6 months out of the year boxed inside our home with the furnace on high. Come summer, I want the windows open and to relish the fact that I finally feel warm. We generally turn our central air on only when daytime temperatures are 90 or above (or when the night-time low isn't predicted to get below about 75, where we keep our thermostat set). I've been told, however, that because the air conditioning unit needs time and energy to cool down the house when warm (and about 24 hours to remove all humidity), it should be turned on at night (when it is cooler and the unit won't need to work as hard to cool the house), and it should not be turned off/on daily, as this uses more energy than simply letting it run. Aim to use it during the hottest weeks and go without during the weeks when you are able. 

3. Buy EnergyStar appliances. An EnergyStar window unit or central air conditioning will not only use less energy than other models (10% and 14%, respectively). You may also qualify for a tax break at the end of the year for any EnergyStar appliances you purchase. MSN has a list of which EnergyStar AC models will use 25% less energy (or more) than standard models, and also suggests visiting the EnergyStar website to compare models before you purchase.

4. Close the windows and shut the curtains. To me this is another "duh," but if the air conditioning is on, the windows should be shut (and locked, to maximize the tightness of the seal). (With my husband in and out of screen door to the deck for summertime grilling, I've uttered the phrase "I'm not paying to cool the outdoors" more than once.)  That said, I'm guilty of leaving the curtains and window shades open (I love my sun and natural light!). My husband is great about shutting the shades on south-facing windows during the day, and opening them as the sun moves overhead. The sun heats up the house quite a bit, and reflecting off of a dark deck or an asphalt driveway can add even more heat before it enters your house; the shades keep out some of the sun, helping to keep your house cool. Yahoo! recommends putting a plant near windows, as well, to absorb some of the extra sunlight as it enters your house.

5. Sign up for a Saver Switch. Many energy companies have what are called "saver switches" or something similar; these devices are hooked up to your central air conditioning unit, and when temps get high and energy usage goes up across your area, the saver switch will automatically raise your thermostat a few degrees. This saves energy, saves you money, prevents rolling brownouts or blackouts, and is highly unnoticeable (we have had ours for the past three years, and this summer was the first time we noticed it in use). As a bonus, it will save you money on your bill, and, BIG BONUS, you will get a discount on your energy bill during the summer months. Here in the Midwest we have Xcel energy, which gives us a 15% discount on our bill each month during the summer (I believe for other states they service they offer a discount of $50 on the October bill). Check with your energy provider to determine which programs and rebates they offer.