5 Tips to Keep Your Chicago Home Energy-Efficient During the Summer

You could save up to 30 percent on utility bills by making a few energy-efficient changes to your home.

When the temperature rises, you’re going to turn up the air conditioning. But if you’re trying to conserve energy and save money, that may not be the best course of action.

Read our five tips to keep your home energy-efficient during summertime in Chicago.

1. Replace Old Windows

Replace old or damaged windows is the easiest way to make your home energy-efficient.

If you feel a draft near your windows, you are letting the Chicago heat wave into your home. Drafts also release your cool air outside, causing you to waste money.

Replace glass windows with vinyl windows for the best energy-efficient results. Window replacement makes for a lower energy bill and a more comfortable home.

2. Consider Energy-Efficient Exterior Doors

Your exterior doors welcome guest into your home, but they can also be welcoming the outside air. Make your life easier and replace your exterior doors with energy-efficient doors.

When picking out your new doors, pay special attention to the material used. Your door should fit snug and have a tight seal.

For more help picking the best energy-efficient exterior door, click here.

3. Use Your Ceiling Fans

Odds are you already have a ceiling fan in most rooms of your home. Using the ceiling fan can help cool you off and increase energy-efficiency.

Ceiling fans reduce energy usage by up to 40 percent in the summer. They use less power and cost less to operate than your air conditioner. Turn your fan on and raise your thermostat by a few degrees.

They key is to turn on a ceiling fan while you are in the room. Ceiling fans work best to cool people, not to cool down empty rooms.

4. Try a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat makes energy efficiency an easy task. These devices are wifi-enabled to control your home’s temperatures.

These work by learning your family’s schedule and temperature preference. The smart thermostat adjusts depending on if you are home, away, or sleeping.

If you don’t have a smart thermostat, the ideal summer thermostat setting is 77 degrees.

5. Maintain Your HVAC

Annual maintenance is essential to ensure your HVAC is energy-efficient.

The easiest maintenance task is changing your filter every six months. Your filter gets clogged up over time. This causes your system to use more energy to produce the same amount of cold air.

Once a year you should also clean your outdoor unit. Remove the exterior panel and hose down the inside of your unit.

Use a vacuum to remove any large debris. Make sure you turn the unit off before cleaning it.

More Tips To Keep Your Home Energy-Efficient

Keeping your home energy-efficient during the summer in Chicago is no easy task. Try a few of these other tricks once you conquer the top five tips.

• Buy energy-efficient appliances
• Insulate the interior and exterior of your home
• Open windows and turn off the air conditioner at night

Contact the Chicago Window Guys for help making your home energy-efficient this summer.

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