News Article
Keeping Cool: Tips for Overcoming High Electric Bills
June 18, 2012
With summer arriving this month, homeowners are looking for ways to beat those “summertime blues.” Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative offers some great energy-saving tips.
• Adjust the thermostat. As TogetherWeSave.com demonstrates, lowering a thermostat in winter can save as much as $85 per year. During warmer months, raising the thermostat a few degrees can save money, too. Set the temperature between 78 -80 degrees Fahrenheit and you could save up to 8% on monthly cooling bills. Programmable thermostats make it easy to save by offering pre-programmed settings to regulate a home’s temperature throughout the year.
• Be a “fan-atic.” While they don’t replace air conditioners or heat pumps, fans move air and helpyou feel more comfortable. On milder days, fans can save as much as 60% on electric bills. Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.
• Regular maintenance is essential. Along with changing the filter monthly, MLEC recommends that members have their HVAC systems serviced annually by a NATE (North American Technician Excellence)-certified technician. This HVAC professional will check your entire system to make sure it runs efficiently. This will help to extend life of the system and save money.
• Look for ENERGY STAR equipment. When it’s time to replace your cooling system, TogetherWeSave.com recommends replacing it with an ENERGY STAR-qualified model. Doing so could reduce your energy costs by as much as 30%. MLECalso offers low-interest financing on qualifying installations by Quality Contractor Network (QCN) members.
• Bigger isn’t always better. Too often, cooling equipment isn’t sized properly and leads to higher electric bills. A unit that’s too large for your home will not cool evenly and might produce higher humidity indoors. That’s why it is important to talk to contact MLEC.
Don’t know who to call to have your unit serviced or a new one installed? Contact MLEC’s Energy Specialist Gene Hale at 931-729-3558 or visit mlec.com for a list of Quality Contractor Network members in the local area who have completed North American Technician Excellence (NATE) training.
Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy® cooperative, is a non-profit organization offering reliable, low-cost electricity to over 35,000 members in Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lewis and Perry counties. Member – electric power companies of Middle Tennessee.Remember to play it safe around electricity.
MLEC
