It’s summer time and the living is easy. However, there are a few things that you should be doing in order to keep the electricity bills as low as possible. For example, you can fan yourself. Did you know that using box fans, standing fans, and ceiling fans instead of air conditioners would save you a significant amount on the electricity bill? In essence, you can increase the thermostat by as much as four (4) degrees without reducing the actual comfort level in your home?

For example, if you set the thermostat at 76 degrees and turn on the fans it will feel the same as if you set the thermostat at 72 degrees. Just remember to turn off the fan or fans whenever you leave the room. The bottom line is that fans only cool off people. They do not cool off the room. Speaking of setting your thermostat, it’s incredibly important to set the temperature higher when you’re not home or you’re not going to be in a room for a prolonged period of time. In essence, you will save a total of 3% off of your cooling costs for each and every degree when you set the thermostat over 72 degrees.

For example, when you’re not home set your thermostat at 78 degrees. It will save you 18% of your cooling costs. If you’re cooling costs are $100 per month that alone will save you $18 per month. It may not sound like a lot but everything adds up. Wouldn’t you rather save $18 per month instead of spending it? A programmable thermostat will help in this cause. You can program a warmer setting when you’re not home and a cooler setting when you are home. That way you won’t forget to turn the thermostat up when you leave the house.

It also works well because you can set it to start the air conditioning 15 or 20 minutes before you get home. That way you can come home to a nice cool house without wasting a lot of energy. Last but certainly not least, you can save a lot of money on your summer energy bills by simply closing the blinds and making sure that the seals around your doors and windows are tight. All you need to do is take a quick walk around your home and close the blinds during the daytime.

All of that strong summer sunlight is causing the temperature to rise in your home. Blocking out that sunlight is key to saving on your energy bill. If your doors and windows are not properly sealed, simply add some weather stripping to keep the warm air outside and the cool air inside.

REAS Foundation (Residential Energy Assistance for Seniors) is an organization that truly believes in the power of community. We also recognize the fact that the greatness of our community is judged by the compassion, contributions, and care for our most vulnerable members. That is why our mission is to help Charlton, MA seniors with their energy needs. By removing that financial burden, our senior community members can live their lives in the comfort and peace that they truly deserve. We care about the health and well being of our senior citizens. Please note that our organization’s service area is exclusive to the Town of Charlton, MA. Please Contact us to learn more today.