Blasting the air conditioning to counteract stifling heat can provide much-needed relief this summer, but the utility bills that follow might not be as pleasant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of electricity has been steadily climbing over the past two years.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost U.S. households will continue to pay high costs for energy throughout the summer because of high energy prices and the anticipated hot temperatures,\u201d says Courtney Klosterman, home insights expert at insurer Hippo The good news is you might have more control over your energy usage than you think. Paula Glover, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit that advocates for energy efficiency policy, estimates that based on numbers from the Energy Department, consumers could save 10% to 20% a year on energy bills just by shifting habits and making some energy-efficient investments. But, she adds, \u201cYou have to be diligent.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are five steps you can follow to\u00a0lower your energy bill\u00a0this summer:<\/p>\n Before making any changes, it\u2019s helpful to examine how much energy you currently use, says Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi Plus<\/strong>: The cost of extreme heat in the U.S.? 235,000 ER visits and $1 billion in healthcare bills this summer alone.<\/p>\n In certain cases, electronics themselves might be leaking, says Ethan O\u2019Donnell, digital editor of FamilyHandyman.com, a website about home improvement projects. Televisions, appliances and all kinds of other electronics can use energy even when they are turned off, he says. A tool called an electricity usage monitor, which can be found for under $15, helps determine exactly how much.<\/p>\n O\u2019Donnell discovered that his lamp, appliances and phone chargers were using more electricity than he realized even when powered off, so he made an effort to unplug them when possible and estimates he saves at least $50 a month from those changes.<\/p>\n Simple changes like adjusting your thermostat, turning lights off when you leave the room and keeping windows and doors shut when the air conditioning is on can go a long way, Glover says. Installing a smart thermostat, which automatically adjusts the temperature based on time, your habits and the season, can also help, she adds.<\/p>\n Hicks suggests leaving window coverings closed during the day to help keep the sun\u2019s heat out of your home and getting a seasonal tuneup to your air-conditioning system to make sure it\u2019s working efficiently. Changing your air filter monthly or quarterly also helps it run better, she adds.<\/p>\n Also see:<\/strong> As U.S. bakes in scorching heat, low-income people and communities of color are hit hardest \u2014 here\u2019s why<\/p>\n Small home improvement projects, such as adding or replacing weather stripping that seals leaks around doors and windows, can significantly reduce your energy consumption, Hicks says. \u201cWalk around your house with a lit candle and if the flame flickers, that\u2019s where drafts are coming in. That\u2019s a good candidate for weather stripping,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Another simple job involves swapping out incandescent bulbs for LED light bulbs, which use at least 75% less energy, according to the Energy Department. \u201cIt seems like nothing but has an enormous impact when we do it collectively,\u201d Glover says.<\/p>\n Also see: <\/strong>This is how electric cars may have lowered energy bills in California<\/p>\n While purchasing new appliances can be expensive, the investment can pay off in energy savings, especially when you select products with the Energy Star certification, a program run by the Environmental Protection Agency. \u201cIf you have an old appliance and you can afford to upgrade to something energy-efficient, do that,\u201d Glover says, but notes that you should also prioritize other home updates such as better insulation.<\/p>\n Plus<\/strong>: July 3 was Earth\u2019s hottest day ever, scientists report<\/p>\n According to Angi\u2019s State of Home Spending in 2022 survey, 29% of homeowners say they plan to add\u00a0solar panels\u00a0to their home within the next five years. Updating the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system, or HVAC, was another popular choice (23%). Those kinds of big investments can pay off over the long run, says Hicks, who adds that\u00a0federal income tax credits\u00a0are available to help offset some of those costs.<\/p>\n Installing doors as a barrier to different zones in the house can help improve efficiency by letting you control what gets warm and what stays cool, says Jonathan Flynn, a senior building analyst with Home Energy Consultants in Pleasant Valley, New York, and a certified Home Energy Rating System rater. \u201cOne of the big flaws in most two-story homes is that there is a stairway that leads up and no door at the top or bottom,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n To prevent that energy leakage, Flynn installed a sliding door at the bottom of the stairs in his own home, but he recognizes that doing so might not be practical or desired by all homeowners with open floor plans. Still, he encourages homeowners to at least consider making these kinds of changes, even if they aren\u2019t currently popular.<\/p>\n
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\n a website that provides information on home services. Hiring a professional to give your home an energy audit typically costs between $200 and $700 and gives you helpful information about where your home might be leaking, she adds. You can find one through local home service provider listings, and some utilities offer the service for free.<\/p>\nEstablish efficient habits<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Make small upgrades<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Update your appliances<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tackle home improvement projects<\/strong><\/h2>\n