With summer right around the corner, ComEd has some great energy-saving and money-saving ideas to help you prepare for the warm days and nights ahead.
Maintain your central air conditioner
Enjoy peak performance when summer heats up. Regular maintenance of your air conditioning system will improve its efficiency, safety and extend its life. Plus, it will help you save money on your monthly energy bill.
- Have your AC system inspected and serviced by a professional technician each year in the spring or early summer to avoid costly repairs and keep it running efficiently.
- Be sure to check, clean, and/or replace air filters as needed. Dirty or clogged air filters make your air conditioner work harder and use more energy.
Use a ceiling fan
Think of ceiling fans as “cooling partners” that promote efficiency and help you control your air conditioning costs. The breeze created by a ceiling fan allows you to raise the thermostat setting 4 degrees and feel just as comfortable.
- Install ceiling fans in the rooms you use most to maximize AC savings while staying cool. Plus, adjust the reverse setting and run at a low speed to push down warm air in the winter to save on heating bills.
- When buying a fan, look for an ENERGY STAR certified model. They are up to 60 percent more efficient than conventional models.
- Remember that fans cool people, not rooms. Turn off fans when the room is unoccupied.
Improve shading for windows
Window shades can help your home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Shading the outside of your windows with awnings, shutters, solar blinds or solar screenings will most effectively block summer heat, while shades insulate in the winter if kept shut.
- Provide adequate shade—especially to windows that face south, west or east, since they let in the most heat in summer months.
- Remember that light-colored, opaque drapes and shades reflect the sun’s energy, while darker ones absorb it and release heat.
- Plant deciduous trees—trees that usually lose their leaves in the fall—to the south of your home to increase shading in the summer and allow sun exposure in the winter.
Check air filters every month
Heating and cooling can account for more than 50 percent of your home energy use. You can improve the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling systems and improve your indoor air quality by checking your filters monthly. Here are some step-by-step tips:
- Remove filter and hold up to the light to examine it.
- Replace a disposable filter if it’s dirty or clogged. Clean a permanent filter if it’s dirty, according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Repeat once a month in the season the unit is used.
- If you’re a renter, enlist your building management to check and replace filters on a regular basis.
Learn more about how to save money and energy at ComEd.com/HomeSavings.
Join ComEd at the annual Switch on Summer event noon-3 p.m., Sunday, May 5, at the iconic Buckingham Fountain. Expect fun games to help your family learn more about saving money and energy, plus giveaways, music and family fun. The fountain will be officially turned on at 2 p.m. Learn more at ComEd.com/SwitchonSummer.