Cut Your Summer Cooling Costs

We’re more than half way through the month of July and we all know that in the Charleston, that can mean soaring power bills to beat the heat. Use these easy tips to cool down your energy costs and your home.

If your yard is in desperate need of a face lift, consider landscaping options that will also benefit your wallet. Creating shade can vastly improve your cooling costs as it prevents your home from heating up under the sun. Consider this an eco-friendly version of closing your curtains and blinds during peak temperatures. Another element of your home’s exterior that you can enhance is your roof. It is no surprise that lighter colored roofing surfaces or those with special coatings tend to reflect more of the sun’s heat, which helps to reduce your energy costs throughout the hottest months while also improving overall efficiency.

Inside your home, utilizing a programmable thermostat can save you up to $150 per year on your electric bill. This type of thermostat raises or lowers temperature settings automatically so that you don’t have to remember to adjust it. Building a temperature schedule based on when you’re out of the house is a great way to start.  SCE&G recommends setting your thermostat at 68°F or lower in the winter & 78° or higher in the summer.

Keeping your air filters clean and changing them out on a regular basis (about once a month) will significantly improve air circulation and cooling effectiveness. It may not be the first improvement to come to mind, but adding additional attic insulation is an inexpensive way to lower energy bills by keeping heat from entering in the summer and escaping during the winter. SCE&G recommends upgrading the insulation to a minimum of R-38 (12-14 inches).

If you’re building a new home or it is simply the time for a new air conditioning unit, consider a solar-ready option. Although initially costly, the overall savings will abound and the tax-deduction is a nice incentive.

What steps do you take to cool your summertime power costs? Share with us in the comments section below.