Getting excited for summer? We don’t blame you – there’s nothing better than a summer spent by the water on the Sunshine Coast. That said, however, we are all well aware of how high those temperatures can rise, and in turn your energy bills from running your air conditioner.
An average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius is good for the beach, but not so good for your home. Cranking the air conditioning is one way to beat the heat, but it certainly makes already high energy bills even higher. According to Numbeo, the average utility bill on the Sunshine Coast rings up around $177, spiking as the heat does. However, there are several easy ways that homeowners can better manage their summertime expenses.
Check out these tips on how to save on your energy bills this summer.
Spring cleaning is an important time to establish a good clean of your home, but you should keep it up throughout the summer. Pay particular attention to the air conditioning vents and filters – over time, dirt and debris get sucked up into the system and can cause it to slow down. When it’s clogged, it can’t perform at its peak condition and that’s when your energy bill goes up.
Dressing your windows to keep direct sunlight from entering will help keep your home cool without having to crank the AC. Fit your home with stylish awning to protect your home from the outside. During the day, close the blinds – they can actually stop up to 30 per cent of the heat! Also consider the colour of your curtains. Neutral colours attract less sun and therefore reduce heat. Of course, you can also get clever with your landscaping and plant some trees or tall shrubbery to block the sunlight.
Believe it or not, but your fan can be spinning in the wrong direction. During the summer, the rotation should be set to run counter-clockwise to create a better cooling breeze. Clockwise actually has a warming effect (which is useful information for wintertime). That fan also help dispenses the air conditioning throughout the rest of the room so you have to use less AC.
When you aren’t using your electronics be sure to power them down completely. Not only are they continuously using energy which impacts your bill, but they emit heat that has more impact on a room’s temperature than you’d think. For example, the average computer can use anywhere from 40 to 100 watts of electricity which pumps directly into the air. Entirely unplug appliances that aren’t being used as they are still sucking up energy and producing heat.
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