8 Ways to Reduce Your Summer Utility Bill

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Well folks, it’s that time of year again! Temperature’s rising, kids are out of school and electric meters are spinning like a crazy. For most Floridians, this is the costliest time of year. So, let’s discover 8 major ways you can save money on your monthly utility bill and still have a fun summer with the familiy!

1. It’s always a good idea to have the Heating and Air Conditioning unit serviced and cleaned as it is, obviously, going to be in overdrive over the next few months.

2. Consider what affects the unit’s usage:

- Is my home properly insulated?

- How frequently is the door opening and closing with the children at home all day?

- At what temperature is your thermostat set? 78º is our recommended temperature!

- Is your duct work sealed properly and your windows in good condition?

Having a professional, or an energy expert, visit your home can help you access what is in good working order and what may need a little attention.

3. Limit the length of each hot shower taken. This will remove less hot water from the tank enabling the unit to heat the water a bit faster.

4. Make sure the thermostat setting on your heating element is adjusted to 120º or less.

5. Place a timer on the Hot Water Heater and control how much it will run during the day, rather than having it turn on and off throughout the day.

6. Appliances do not use power when they are not running, with exception to refrigerator, which you don’t wish to unplug, so you want to have the best, most efficient “energy star” appliances that you can afford.

7. Moving to electronics: such as TVs, video games, computers, phones and etc. … all you can really do is make sure they are turned off when not in use.

8. Lastly, consider lighting, which is another easy fix. Of course, you will turn them off when you leave the room but you can also replace old incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent or LED bulbs.

If you have questions regarding any of the tips we have discussed, contact your energy experts at Florida Public Utilities. We would be more than happy to help you save energy and money on your monthly utility bill this summer!

Find out how to save on energy bills with the right insulation!

FPU Blog