How to Beat the Heat & Save Money on your Cooling Bills this Summer

It’s summer and the temperatures are rising! We’ve seen record heat over the last few years, even in places you wouldn’t normally expect. Because I enjoy optimization and researching topics relevant to my current situation (i.e. desert dweller), I’ve decided to gather up some of my favorite ideas to help you beat the heat and save money on your cooling bills this summer.

Here are 14 ways to keep cool and save money on your cooling bills this summer:

1. Take off your clothes.

Well, maybe not all of them. This tip is simple, yet effective. If it’s hot outside, wear clothes that you’d be comfortable in if you were outside. Dressing for the weather will allow you to keep the thermostat a little higher and utilize your air conditioner less. To me, it’s never made sense to wear pants indoors, only to have to blast the air conditioning to feel comfortable. Additionally, removing any blankets from your bed in the summer and wearing lightweight PJ’s (if any) can help to keep you cool. The reverse approach can save a lot of money on heating during the winter months.

2. Adjust your thermostat by a degree or two.

Making a small change can save you a lot of money on your air conditioning bills over the long run. And because the change is small, it probably won’t affect your comfort level much. Start by adjusting your thermostat just one degree, then increase it more if no one complains. While it may take a few days or weeks to get used to the warmer temperature, it will soon become your new normal (though my partner might disagree).

We regularly keep our thermostat at 80 or 81 degrees in the summer, which is pretty tolerable. Air conditioning bills in Arizona are insane during the summer months. Our summer bills are typically about half that of others in the area from what I’ve seen. Additionally, our lower energy use qualifies us for a better plan that doesn’t penalize energy use during peak hours like most time-of-use plans in our area do.

3. Adjust your thermostat by even more when you’re not at home.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), adjusting your temperature by 7 – 10 degrees for 8 hours a day when you’re not home can save up to 10 percent on cooling costs. Although this difference seemed high to me, the arguments for it claim that the higher interior temperatures will actually slow the flow of heat into your home during the day, so the effort required isn’t as significant as you might expect. I always thought that adjusting the temperature by too much would force your air conditioning unit into overdrive once you returned home, which could lower the life of the unit. Either way, nearly all parties seem to agree that adjusting your thermostat by at least a few degrees will save you money and reduce energy consumption.

4. Use a fan… or several.

Ceiling fans don’t actually lower the ambient temperature of a room. However, they can make it feel up to 4 degrees cooler. Strategically using ceiling or portable fans can keep you feeling cooler for a fraction of the energy and cost that an air-conditioning unit uses. ENERGY STAR reports that homeowners who turn up their thermostat by a couple of degrees and run their ceiling fans to stay comfortable can cut their air conditioning costs by 14%.

We have ceiling fans in most rooms, but I have a small portable fan I use in rooms which don’t. There’s no reason to cool every square foot of a big house if you’re only working within a few square feet. Also, since fans only cool you, remember to turn them off when you leave a room.

5. Check for rebates or money saving programs offered by your local municipality or utility

This tip might not keep you any cooler but can help you save money on your air conditioning cooling bills and energy saving home improvements.

These days, many utilities or local governments offer rebates for swapping out your old thermostats for smart ones, like the Nest. Smart thermostats let you set programs and control the temperature from your phone while you’re away, so you don’t have to remember to do so.

Having a smart thermostat may also open opportunities for participating in additional money saving programs offered by your utility. For example, our utility company offers a “rewards” program in the summer which gives participants a $25 credit for each thermostat enrolled. The program allows the utility to adjust your thermostat by a couple degrees when demand is high. Sure, it gets a little sweaty in our house during these events, especially because we already keep it pretty warm. However, the events only last a few hours, and you can opt out of one at any time, so we’re happy to do our part in exchange for an extra $50/year.

6. Mind the gap.

Having a tightly sealed house can prevent cool air from escaping and minimize the hot air seeping in, which can in turn save you money on your cooling bills.

Consider adding a line item to your spring maintenance list to check for any gaps in windows, doors, or siding. It won’t cost much (or require a lot of effort), but you can reduce the heat transfer by repairing any gaps identified with caulk, weather-stripping, or additional insulation before the summer heat arrives. If you need help identifying the leaks, many utility companies offer home energy audits for a nominal fee. Drafty windows and doors are the top culprits, so focus on these areas if you’re short on time.  

7. Or, make a big investment for a more energy efficient home.

Lately, Mr. RFL and I have been watching a lot of shows about passive homes and building off-grid. It’s really interesting to see how efficiently and effectively passive homes maintain stable temperatures and minimize energy use.  While it’s nearly impossible to match that energy efficiency in an existing home, there are several investments you can make to reduce the carbon footprint of your home and save money on your cooling bills in the future.

Keep in mind, that the costs are high and the break-even period for some of these projects can take several years to reach. That said, we try to vote with our wallet where we can and have implemented a couple of the below projects during our own home renovation.

Here are a few investments to consider:

• Replace single pane windows with more energy efficient versions – If your windows are drafty or nearing the end of their life, swapping them out for more energy efficient windows can reduce your cooling costs tremendously. Energy STAR reports that switching from single pane windows to energy star rated dual pane windows can save between 20% – 31% on heating and cooling bills. Not only will new windows reduce your energy consumption, but they can also improve curb appeal and add value to your home at resale, with most ROI estimates falling between 50% and 85% in my research.
• Replace your HVAC system with a more energy efficient model – While I wouldn’t throw out a perfectly good unit, there’s a good chance you’ll need to replace yours if you live in your home for long enough. When you do replace them, consider upgrading to a higher SEER rating, which will save you money on your cooling bills. You don’t need the highest SEER rating available, even an upgrade a few levels will net you some nice savings. You can improve the life and efficiency of existing units by properly maintaining them now (which saves you money).
• Add Solar panels – There is obviously a huge benefit to generating your own energy, but that benefit comes with a significant upfront cost. Still, it’s an upgrade worth considering if you live somewhere sunny, plan to stay put for several years, and want to reduce your energy consumption. Even in sunny Arizona, we had to pass on this upgrade for our current home because the break-even point was just too long. That said, going solar is definitely on my wish list for a future home, both for its money saving and sustainability benefits.

8. Stay hydrated.

Yep, drinking more water and staying hydrated by eating lots of fruits and vegetables can make a difference in how cool you feel. While ice cold drinks might seem like your best bet, room temperature or warm beverages are actually better for keeping you cool. This one may seem strange, but I can attest that it works. When the air conditioner broke during a conference I attended early in my career, those of us who had been binge drinking bottles of water all day (don’t ask) were actually pretty comfortable. The rest of the attendees were sweating buckets.  

9. Leave your oven off.

Using your oven during the summer will only increase the ambient temperature of your home. By reducing the frequency and/or duration of use, you can keep your home cooler. A few simple ways to do this, without resorting to take out, are to meal prep big batches of food a couple times a week, make more uncooked meals, and to cook most of your food using the stovetop, Instant Pot, crockpot, countertop oven, or outdoor grill, instead of your full-sized oven.

10. Air dry your clothes.

Similar to the oven, your clothes dryer is another appliance which emits a lot of heat. If you live in a mild climate, consider line drying your clothes outdoors in the summer. Sunshine is free. If this isn’t an option, you can always dry your clothes on a drying rack indoors. We’re doing more of the latter since it’s too dusty to hang clothes outside here. Sometimes clothes get to too stiff or wrinkly with air drying, but I’ve found that drying for just 5-10 minutes on low heat before hanging can alleviate that issue, without having to run a full cycle. Air drying your hair is also a good idea.

11. Cover your windows during the day.

According to the DOE, approximately 76% of sunlight coming through windows enters in the form of heat. You can easily minimize this transfer by hanging (and closing) window treatments that block sunlight during the day. This also adds an additional layer of insulation, which is especially important if you have older windows.  

12. If the temperatures drop at night, open the windows.

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where the heat subsides in the overnight (we are not), consider opening some windows or screen doors as the temperatures cool to allow some of that colder air to circulate your home and supercool it for the next day.  

13. Surround your home with shade.  

A few strategically placed trees can help to block some of the sun’s rays and keep your house cooler. If you’re adding new trees, just be sure not to plant them too close to the house. You don’t want to risk damage from tree branches falling or roots breaking through your pipes later on.

14. Finally, have some summer fun!

Take advantage of the warm weather and head to your neighborhood pool or set up a sprinkler in your back yard to cool off. You were going to do that anyways, weren’t you? We opted not to add a pool during our home renovation to avoid the headache and cost, but have a great community pool and splashpad which we frequently use in the summer.

Did I miss any? Drop a comment if you have any tips to add that help to beat the heat and save on cooling bills!

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