BPU offers the following energy-efficiency tips for the cooling season, to assist in lowering your energy bills.
Online energy audit: Visit BPU’s online Home Energy Audit. Fill in the information and see where your home uses the most energy. You’ll receive recommendations that can make your home more energy efficient.
Use your air conditioner sparingly: Instead of running the air conditioner out of habit, pay close attention to the weather and turn it off on cooler, less humid days. Close off unused rooms as well as the vents in those rooms. Stay in cooler parts of the house, such as lower levels and rooms on the northern and tree-shaded sides of the house.
Block the sun: Shut out direct sunlight with shades and draperies. Place air-conditioning units in shaded areas. Also, plant shade trees and shrubbery on the south and west sides of your home. As the plants grow, they will help shade your home.
Dial up: Setting your thermostat a few degrees higher can make a big difference – reducing electrical usage 3 percent to 5 percent for each degree. A setting of 78 degrees will keep you comfortable when it is more than 90 degrees F outside.
Programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat that is set to raise the temperature while you’re away or asleep can produce significant savings. Raise the setting five degrees or more when you’re away. For sleeping, set it three or four degrees higher than when you’re awake and active.
Clean air-conditioning filters: Check filters monthly and clean or replace them. Rinse outside air-conditioning coils to remove dust and dirt.
Circulate air inside and outside: Make sure air can circulate freely in your home. Make sure registers are clean and clear of furniture or other obstructions. Keep your outside air-conditioning unit clear of grass, weeds and shrubs to allow air to flow over its cooling coils. This will keep your air-conditioning unit from working too hard.
Exhaust fans: Use exhaust fans to reduce humidity from showers and kitchen cooking, but remember to turn them off when you finish those activities. Set your refrigerator to the high humidity setting to improve its efficiency.
Portable fans: Fans use less energy than air conditioners and can boost the comfort from an air conditioner, increasing its efficiency. A portable fan set several feet away from a window air-conditioning unit can spread cool air into other rooms and down hallways. Reverse the normal direction of ceiling fans to pull cool air up from the floor. Ventilate your attic with a thermostat-controlled fan.
Late in the evening: Plan to use heat-producing appliances, like clothes dryers and ovens, in the cool of the late evening or early morning.
BPU offers residential customers a Level Pay Plan to avoid monthly fluctuations in energy bills. This payment plan divides your estimated annual billing costs into equal monthly payments. To discuss a Level Pay Plan, call BPU Customer Service Representatives at (913) 573-9190.
