June 22, 2016/in Geothermal Energy /by jeng

The temperatures are rising, the days are getting longer, and off in the distance we can hear the sweet siren of the ice cream truck. This can only mean one thing—summer is officially here! As we all know, summers in North Carolina are hot and humid, which means air conditioning is pretty much a necessity. While cranking up the AC and enjoying the cool air is lovely, it can also put a strain on your wallet. This is a shame, mostly because it means there’s less cash for beach trips and new bathing suits! Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of ways to keep your energy costs down this summer. Give them a try and reap the rewards!

1. Turn up your thermostat when you’re away.

Some people believe that it uses less energy to maintain the same temperature constantly, but this myth has been debunked! For the most savings, keep your home a few degrees warmer when you’re at work, and then turn it down to a cool 78F when you get home.

2. Use ceiling fans to keep the room cool.

Turning on the ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat about 4F without feeling any change in temperature. But remember to turn off the fan when you leave the room—while fans will keep a person cool by creating a wind chill affect, they don’t actually lower the temperature in the room. Keeping them on when no one is using them is a waste of energy!

3. Embrace your outdoor grill.

Summer is ideal barbeque weather, and it’s not just because of the hot dogs and hamburgers. Grilling outside means you can avoid turning on your oven or raising the temperature with a hot stovetop. If the weather isn’t cooperating, opt for fresh salads and sandwiches, or let your microwave do the heavy lifting.

4. Cover your windows.

We love a sunny day as much as the next person, but if you want to keep your home cool, it helps to keep the sun out. For a quick fix, close your curtains, blinds, and shades. If you want to take window coverings to the next level, invest in solar screens or window films. These products can keep up to 70% of solar energy out of your home and will pay for themselves by the time fall rolls around.

5. Install a geothermal cooling system.

Geothermal energy is an effective way to cut down on energy costs, especially in the summer—you could save between 30% and 70%! While installing a geothermal system might seem like a lot of work, the long-term benefits are worth it. Homes with geothermal energy systems are also eligible for certain tax breaks, which means you could be enjoying a 30% tax credit next spring. If you’re interested in exploring geothermal energy as a way to lower your air conditioning bill, contact Applied Resource Management today and learn more about our full range of geothermal well drilling and loop system installation services.

We hope this post has given you some cool ideas for keeping costs down this summer. For more tips on saving energy and living a green life, like us on Facebook. In the meantime, have a great summer!