Change Your Thermostat’s Setting to Save Money on AC

Filed in archive Saving on June 19, 2009

© bunky's pickle

Another great way to save money on your air conditioning bill this summer is to change the setting on your thermostat for your central air conditioning. If you do not have one that you can automatically set, then you may want to get one.

It is a good idea to set it at a reasonably high temperature, and not go for real cold. This should be around 76 degrees, which is just on the edge of being comfortable for most people. Then, to make it feel a little cooler where you will be, turn on a ceiling fan or a portable one.

When you leave the house for a couple of hours, turn it up much higher so that it will hardly run at all. This could be as high as 84-85 degrees. Then, when you come back, turn it back to its normal setting and it won't take long to cool the house again. This way, you are not wasting a lot of electricity cooling a house that nobody is in.

If you run an exhaust fan either in the kitchen or bathroom, only use it for a short time to draw out the humidity. If the fan is left on too long, you are pulling your cool air right out the window - and you will never cool the outside that way. Save money by limiting its use.