This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Is Your Rising Electric Bill Bringing You Down?

Tips to almost cut your electric bill in half.

Heating and air conditioning can account for almost half of your electric utility usage. By making a few small changes, you might be able to significantly reduce your monthly costs while increasing your family’s comfort level and also making an environmental contribution.  

Try these simple strategies for increasing your home’s HVAC efficiency and reducing your energy costs: 

A few degrees – Adjusting your thermostat by just a few degrees is a fast and easy way to reduce your energy costs. Of course, you don’t want to make your family uncomfortable, but they probably won’t notice a degree or two. You can save as much as 2 to 3 percent for every degree the temperature is raised in summer or lowered in winter. 

Find out what's happening in Upper Dublinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Energy audit – Your utility company may offer a free or discounted energy audit. If not, you can do it yourself: Collect your last 12 months of utility bills and use the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick to determine your home’s efficiency and get recommendations for improvements. If you decide to hire a professional home energy auditor or home energy rater, click here to see a list of ENERGY STAR partners. 

Change your air filter – Check your HVAC system’s air filter monthly, especially during winter and summer months. Change the filter every three months, minimum, and whenever it looks dirty, even if it’s only been a month. A dirty air filter slows down airflow and forces your HVAC system to work harder. It also allows dirt and dust to build up in your system, which could cause breakdowns or early system failure. 

Find out what's happening in Upper Dublinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tune up – Have your system serviced annually by an HVAC specialist. Yearly tune-ups can improve efficiency and extend the life of your system. 

Program it – Installing a programmable thermostat can save you $180 a year in energy costs, by using pre-programmed settings to adjust the temperature in your home while you are at work. 

Upgrade or update – If your system is old, inefficient or undersized, consider updating or upgrading it. Although initially you might experience sticker shock with the cost of upgrading your HVAC system, this is an investment that will most likely pay for itself in just a few years. An efficient heating and air conditioning system will use significantly less energy, significantly saving electricity and money over an inefficient one. You may also qualify for rebates or grants for upgrading to a more efficient HVAC system. Call your electric company’s customer service or check out their website for more information. 

How much was your most expensive electric bill? Tell us below in the comments.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?