ST. PETERSBURG – A sweltering hot Florida summer can cause your electric bill to jump as your air conditioning battles high humidity and temperatures consistently north of 90 degrees. But, you can survive the heat and your summer energy bills by following these simple tips from Duke Energy Florida.
Try these money-saving tips to help reduce your electric use and save as the temperature rises:
- Set your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting. Energy used to cool a home during summer can account for half of a monthly electric bill. Adjusting your thermostat to 76 degrees from 73 degrees saves more than 15 percent in electricity costs. When leaving for the day, turn the setting up a few degrees.
- Keep the AC fan switch set to “auto” and save up to $25 a month versus leaving it set to “on” continuously as many people do.
- Change your air filters regularly. A dirty air filter can make a cooling system work harder, which uses more energy.
- Close blinds, drapes and shades during the hottest part of the day to keep the sun’s rays from heating the inside of your home.
- Turn off unnecessary lights, and use energy-efficient light bulbs that use less electricity and emit less heat.
- Use fans, but only in occupied rooms. A ceiling fan (spinning counter clockwise) can make you feel three to four degrees cooler. But remember, fans cool people, not rooms.