Tips to Reducing Electric Costs for Low-Income Families

With summer in full-swing, many household will turn on their air conditioners up during the day. While this will help families stay cool during the hot, summer days, it can also dramatically increase your electric bill.
This can be especially hard for low-income families, who already have tight budgets. However, there are some simple things you can do to reduce your overall electric bill, yet still stay cool this summer. Below is a look at several things you can do to reduce you electric bill.

Shade Windows
The most important thing you can do to reduce your electric bill is to do everything possible to keep the cool air inside and the hot air outside. You should make sure that you pull your blinds down and close your curtains, especially during the daytime when the sun is the brightest. This is especially important if you have any north or west facing windows because these are the directions that the sun will shine the brightest into your home.

You should also do a complete inspection of your doors and windows. If you see any gaps around the frame of the doors and/or windows, you need to seal them up immediately. You can also install awning to place on the outside of your windows and doors, as this will work to shield your home from the sun’s rays.

Use Fans When Possible
While there are many days when the air conditioner is necessary to provide much needed relief from the outdoor heat, there may be some days where a fan in the window is all you need. Even if only some of the evenings are cool enough to go without the air conditioning and use a fan instead, it will save you a lot of money on your electric bill. The only thing is that you want to make sure that you have your window sealed up and the air conditioner back on before the morning sun starts to heat everything up again.

Keep Your Home Cool
Whether you realize it or not, there are a lot of things inside your home that can heat things up, such as you home lights, computers and television sets. Try to keep all of these things off in your home during the hottest parts of the day. Also, only use you oven during the day when absolutely necessary. The oven will cause you air conditioner to work overtime to keep your home cool.

Set Thermostat Temperature
You should consider purchasing a programmable thermostat that will automatically change the temperature in your home at different times of the day. For example, the home can remain a little warmer while everyone is away or at work and then start to cool things down right before everyone comes home. In addition, you may be able to sleep at night at a higher temperature than you need it to be during the day. If you cannot use a programmable thermostat, be sure to change the temperature setting yourself before you leave the house or go to bed. This will help to conserve energy and reduce your electric bill.

Of course, in addition to all of these steps listed above, your family should also practice other energy-saving habits, such as turning the lights off when you leave a room, unplugging appliances when you are not using them, turning off gaming consoles and computers when not in use, and using an outdoor clothesline instead of a clothes dryer.

Together these steps can help you save money on your electric bill and make your payments more affordable. If you do fall behind on your bills, be sure to contact your electric company immediately and ask for the hardship department. They are likely to work a payment plan out with you to help you catch up with your bills. You can also contact Home Energy Saving Scheme (HESS), to receive financial counselling, help creating an action plan, and tips to make sure you are receiving all the benefits and credits you deserve.

Image courtesy of ponsulak / FreeDigitalPhotos.net