Simple Summer Savings

 With summer in full swing, air conditioners are running full time. For the average family, heating your home during the winter creates the highest of electric bills, but for some, using the air conditioning is also a factor in increasing our utility bills.

 The average cost of heating and cooling your home is approximately 55 percent of your overall electric bill. And although air conditioning usually does not cost as much as heating your home, there are some measures that Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative recommend to help control your air conditioning costs this summer.

 We hope you’ll find these suggestions helpful, and if you’d like more energy conservation tips to help reduce your utility bills, please call your local SVEC office or go online at www.svalleyec.com.

 Seven Simple Ways to Save

1. If you’re gone for an extended period, leave your air conditioner off. Don’t pay to keep your furniture nice and cool.
2. Keep air conditioner filters clean. Aluminum mesh filters may be washed. Fiberglass filters should be replaced.
3. Keep air vents clear of obstructions.
4. Close drapes on the sunny side of the house during the day.
5. Leave storm windows and doors in place when the air conditioner is on.
6. Set the thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature. We’re not suggesting you break a sweat, but even a 1-degree change can save you money.
7. If you cool with window units, place them on the north side of the house when possible, clear vents of obstructions, shut doors to unused rooms and close floor or wall registers used for heating.

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