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Aug 28, 2023

Rossen Reports: 9 tricks to save on your energy bill

Deals, scams, your money, unemployment— Jeff’s newsletter cuts through the

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Electricity costs are going up across the country. The Energy Information Administration says the typical bill is set to go up about 2% this summer. Why?

While wholesale power costs are dropping, it takes a while for those decreases to trickle down to us at home. How can cool your house this summer for less money to keep those bills down?

Here are some answers:

The Department of Energy says homes should be kept at 78 degrees when home during the day, 82 degrees when sleeping and 85 degrees when out of the house for maximum savings. But if that sounds too high, adjust it in a different way: Turn your thermostat up 7 to 10 degrees from your normal setting for eight hours a day. This will save you up to 10% a year.

Everyone knows heat rises, so open them when it is hot inside, the hot air will vent out. But if you have double-hung windows, you can cool your house with an even more efficient trick.

Think of an airplane wing. When air passes over your house, open the bottom section of the windows on the upwind side of the house and the top section of the downwind side. The low pressure will suck the air through your house, making it cooler. How can you tell which side is upwind and which side is downwind?

Pull out your weather app. It will tell you which way the wind is blowing for the entire day. Then you can use the compass app to tell you which windows face each way (if you don't already know).

The washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc. are things that should be run at night. They heat up your house and make your A/C go into overdrive.

Also, some electric companies charge more per kilowatt hour (kWh) depending on the time of day or time of year. That's called a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate. At times when energy usage is higher and the demand on the grid is higher, like during the summer when people are running their air conditioning units more frequently, for example, the cost of electricity increases.

Every utility company is different as far as how much rates increase during peak hours. It could be anywhere from an additional 5 cents to 20 cents per kWh. Check your electric company's website, that way you know when your TOU rate is higher.

Water heating accounts for about 18% of the energy consumed in your home. Most manufacturers' factory settings are around 140 degrees. By adjusting your temperature down to 120 degrees, the Department of Energy estimates that you can save anywhere from $36 to $61 annually. In fact, for every 10 degrees lower, you can save 3 to 5% on your bill.

Appliances that are plugged in but not turned on can still suck energy. They end up costing you an average of $100 a year. Electronics with a timer and LED displays like TVs, gaming consoles, the coffee maker, printer, etc. are especially bad. Turn them off to save money.

Turn the bathroom fan and exhaust fan in your kitchen on to drag the hot air that rises and push it out of your home.

Dry air feels cooler than humid air, and your A/C will need to do less work if it's working alongside a good-quality dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers suck the moisture out of the summer air, making it much more comfortable, even at higher temperatures. To save on electricity costs, get a built-in unit that turns off when the humidity drops below a targeted level. If not a large one, a small one for your room is helpful.

Because fans keep air moving around, rather than cooling the air, it's best to set up your fans in windows or hallways so you can create a cross breeze that will draw in cooler air.