Cooling Down Summer Energy Use (More Power to You blog)

Summer’s hot. (News flash, right?) That means most people are turning o n air conditioning, fans and anything else that’ll keep life cool and comfortable.  

All of that takes energy, and Longmont uses more electricity in the summer than any other time of year. When you’re trying to be energy-efficient (and save on your bill!), even a few super-hot days can add up fast. 

With that in mind, here’s a few simple ways to dial things down:  

• Keep your a/c or heat pump regularly maintained: Just taking care of your air conditioner can lower your energy use noticeably – between 5% and 30%, according to some estimates. Get a regular tune-up and check with your HVAC professional about how often to clean or replace your filters. (You can even set a recurring reminder on your phone and calendar to take care of it!)   
• Consider a smart thermostat: With a programmable thermostat, you can automatically reset the temperature when you’re away or asleep without sacrificing comfort. You can even get a rebate on smart thermostats through Efficiency Works.  

• Use fans properly: Fans don’t actually cool a room – they cool you by creating a wind chill, which evaporates sweat more quickly. So remember to turn the fan off when you leave the room … without you there, all it’s doing is running a motor and running up your meter.  

• Stake your energy vampires: Some of the devices in your home draw power even when they’re not doing anything. Some will be on standby like a video game console or smart TV – if you have several of those that get used together, plug them into a common strip so you can turn them all on or off at once. (You can even get an advanced power strip for free when you request a Longmont Sustainable Home Consultation.) And if something is truly idle – say, a charger with no phone plugged in – keep it unplugged unless you need it. 

Check out our friends at Efficiency Works for more ideas and opportunities for saving energy. (And to learn what the City is doing to keep Longmont cool, visit our Summer Heat and Cooling Solutions webpage.  

With that in mind, you can relax. Or even chill.