Low impact ideas for staying cool this summer

by Jill Williams on June 20, 2018

Did you know that you can receive a $40 credit on your electric bill if you power down your AC this summer? Dominion Energy is running a cool new incentive program called Smart Cooling Rewards that will earn you an easy $40 back on your bill. Powering down your AC requires creative ways of staying cool without the strain on the environment. Here are three energy saving ideas to keep that AC off this summer!

  1. Adjust your Thermostat. Programming your thermostat to slightly over 70 degrees will keep the overall temperature comfortable in the house even if it’s not cold.
  2. Another trick is if you live in a mutli-story home, close all of the cooling vents on the lower floors (since they usually stay cooler anyway), and only keep the upstairs vents open to balance the natural temperatures in the house.
  3. Crank up the fans! Fans create a wind chill effect that will make you more comfortable in your home and according to the Department of Energy, will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.  But be sure to turn them off when your not in the room. Fans create a wind chill that cools people, but not rooms. 🙂
  4. Secure the cool in and keep the heat out! Closing the drapes and curtains to keep rooms dark will also keep them cooler, especially during the daytime to block out the heat radiating off the natural light.

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: