{"id":3092,"date":"2023-12-06T02:25:43","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T08:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chariotstg2020.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=3092"},"modified":"2025-06-03T09:40:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T09:40:15","slug":"energy-saving-tips-for-summer-that-actually-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/blog\/energy-saving-tips-for-summer-that-actually-work\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Energy-Saving Tips for the Summer that Actually Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In Texas, you know it\u2019s summer when you\u2019re still sweating after the sun goes down. Yes, it really gets that hot here. Hence, you can probably guess what\u2019s the number one appliance in your home that makes your energy bill go up:<strong> the air conditioner.<\/strong> This single appliance is single-handedly responsible for why your energy bill is higher during the summer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why we\u2019ve compiled 8 of our best energy-saving tips for summer. Our goal is to give your AC a much-needed rest while making sure you aren\u2019t too sweaty. We go beyond \u201cturn your thermostat up\u201d and tell you our cleverest tricks for keeping your house cool amidst the Texas heat while staving off monster electric bills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Isn\u2019t that what we all want at the end of the day?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Change Your Air Filter Once a Month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the easiest thing you can do to lower your energy bill. A dirty filter causes the air to move slower,&nbsp; which makes your HVAC system work harder than it has to. It also helps prevent dust buildup in your system, which can lead to even bigger problems like your AC going out in August. Yikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why we suggest changing your air filter every 30 days, even though every 2-3 months is <em>technically <\/em>fine. Just note that it will lead to a higher electricity bill. We recommend buying your filters in bulk so you always have some around when you need a new one. Your bill and AC unit will thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Use These Energy-Efficient Thermostat Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For this tip, you\u2019ll need a programmable thermostat. We know what you\u2019re thinking: that sounds like a lot of money. In reality, they\u2019re super affordable, starting at $20 for a very effective model. Yes, you could dole out $250 for the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, which is the <a href=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/blog\/top-smart-home-devices\/\">best thermostat on the market in 2020<\/a>. But if you\u2019re looking for simple programming functions, the basic one from your local hardware store will work just fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you do install that new model, we encourage the following thermostat settings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Summer: 75\u00b0 F <\/strong>during the day if people are home and at night when people are asleep<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Summer: 80\u00b0 F<\/strong> during the day if no one is home<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, this might seem extreme at first, but if you work toward those parameters slowly and keep your family\u2019s comfort in mind, you\u2019ll see savings through these recommended temperatures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Fans are Your Friend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ceiling fans, tower fans and desk fans are the trick to making you feel cooler than you actually are. The fan pushes the air across your skin, helping cool you so you don\u2019t need to keep your HVAC cranked all the time. This will also help you gradually work your way to those above summer temperature settings without feeling uncomfortable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Only Use Your Oven If You Have to<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only does your oven use a lot of energy to heat up, but it also makes your house hotter, which makes your AC work more. We recommend using your oven only when necessary and swap it out for more energy-efficient appliances in your house:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Microwave<\/strong>: The ultimate energy saver, it heats up your food without creating much hot air in the process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Toaster Oven:<\/strong> Essentially a mini oven, but it uses much less energy and creates less heat because of its size.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Air Fryer<\/strong>: A mini convection oven, it circulates hot air on the inside rapidly to evenly cook food \u2014 and crisp it up.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Instant Pot<\/strong>: This slow cooker\/pressure cooker is perfect for slow-braised stews and meats you would otherwise bake for hours on end in the oven.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Cook Outside<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Texas summers and backyard cookouts go hand-in-hand. It\u2019s the perfect energy-saving method of cooking \u2014 you aren\u2019t heating up your house, and you\u2019re not using energy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note that charcoal and propane do release carbon emissions. So, you should keep that in mind when tracking your carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Look for Air Leaks and Replace the Weatherstripping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You could do a professional inspection, but that costs extra money. Instead, look for drafts yourself to save money, and it\u2019s pretty easy. Dampen your hand and wave it slowly in front of common leak sites, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wiring holes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Windows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recessed lights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your hand feels cool (i.e. the air is evaporating the water), then you\u2019ve found a leak. This is likely because your weatherstripping is old. Luckily, it\u2019s super inexpensive to replace and install by yourself. Your local hardware store will most likely sell any type of weatherstripping you need. This simple fix can save you up to 30% in energy costs from space conditioning.<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Seal Your Fireplace with a Chimney Balloon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your fireplace is one of the few things in your home you can\u2019t really weather-strip. Instead, use a chimney balloon. This is a heat-reactive plastic balloon that inflates to seal the opening of your fireplace when the chimney isn\u2019t in use. If you forget it\u2019s there and light a fire when winter arrives, the balloon will automatically deflate since it\u2019s heat-reactive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Install an insulated box to seal your attic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While you can use weatherstripping to seal your attic, the most effective way to do this is through an attic box. This is essentially a removable piece of insulation that covers the attic opening. You can build one or buy one premade.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These tips are focused on saving money by helping your air conditioning do less work, but we\u2019ve got tips on how to use less electricity and save money for just about everything, from refrigerators to washing machines. We\u2019ve linked a few of our favorite tips to save energy (and money) below, so we encourage you to check them out!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/chariot-university\/what-uses-most-electricity-your-home\/\"><strong>What Uses the Most Electricity in Your Home? Let&#8217;s Examine Your Appliances<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/chariot-university\/save-on-electric-bill\/\"><strong>How to Save on Your Electric Bill: 9 Simple Steps to Energy Excellence<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/chariot-university\/tips-make-home-more-energy-efficient\/\"><strong>Help the Environment &amp; Your Electric Bill: 30 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Texas, you know it\u2019s summer when you\u2019re still sweating after the sun goes down. Yes, it really gets that hot here. Hence, you can probably guess what\u2019s the number one appliance in your home that makes your energy bill go up: the air conditioner. This single appliance is single-handedly responsible for why your energy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy-conservation","category-green-living"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3092\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}