Energy Month: 19 of 100 ways to save electricity at home – cooling

• Switch your ceiling fan to turn in a counter-clockwise direction in the summer; in the winter, run it at low speed, but clockwise.
• Close your exterior doors and windows tightly when the AC is on. Save even more by turning off kitchen and bath exhaust fans.
• Change or clean your Air Conditioner’s (AC) air filters at least once a month to keep your system running at peak performance.
• Make sure your AC has a rating – or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) – of 15.
• Make saving automatic: Set your thermostat fan switch to ‘auto’ to save energy. Leaving it in the ‘on’ position keeps air running constantly.
• Block the sun from overheating your home! Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs.
• Insulate your walls with injected foam insulation to help you save energy by keeping hot outside air from seeping through porous block walls – check with your local building supply company for details.
• Give your AC tune-up. Running an inefficient AC system can result in high monthly bills. Plus, you could qualify for a rebate.
• Open interior doors so that cooled air flows freely throughout your home.

Learn more about energy saving technology below

• Repair leaky ducts to reduce heating and cooling costs and qualify for a rebate toward repairs.
• Install attic insulation rated R-30 and sealing any attic leaks to reduce high home cooling costs. You’ll save money each month and qualify for a rebate of $75 or more.
• Check for household leaks to make sure air isn’t escaping through openings such as fireplace dampers, doors and windows.
• Decorate for a cooler home by hanging light-coloured curtains that allow light to enter a room while blocking some of the sun’s rays, and light-coloured paint to reflect heat.
• Close unused air vents. If you have central AC you can close air vent in rooms you’re not using so you’re not paying to cool them.
• Plant trees to provide shade on the sunny side of your home.
• Use ceiling fans to cool off for less. Ceiling fans use no more electricity than a standard light bulb. However, be sure to turn fans off when you leave — they only cool people, not rooms.
• Install more ceiling fans. Because the breeze of a fan can make you feel three to four degrees cooler, you can raise that thermostat and still stay comfortable.
• Raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees to save on your cooling costs.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust your temperature during the day.