Summers in Upstate New York can be hot and muggy. Constantly running the air conditioner can become expensive, so you may be looking for opportunities to reduce the amount of energy used by the cooling equipment. In addition to having an HVAC contractor tune your system to ensure it operates efficiently, here are a few other measures you can take to save money while keeping your home comfortable.

How to Cool Your Home Efficiently

1. Eliminate Heat & Humidity from Appliances

Your lights and appliances may be contributing to indoor heat. Keep your home cooler by cooking outdoors as much as possible during summer. Cook meat, bake potatoes, and heat up side dishes on the barbecue grill instead of running your stove and oven. 

If you must boil water on the stove, run the range hood fan to remove humidity from the air. Do the same by running the bathroom fan while taking a bath or shower. Finally, switch out incandescent lightbulbs—which can have surface temperatures of up to 250 degrees—with energy-efficient LED or fluorescent bulbs, which do not produce nearly as much heat.

2. Keep the Sun Out

When sunlight enters your house through the windows, it heats up the walls, floors, and furniture, which makes your home feel hotter and less comfortable. Keep excess light out of your house during the day by closing the drapes or blinds. 

Windows on the south wall have the most exposure to sunlight throughout the day. Those on the east side of the house are most affected in the morning, while west wall windows receive direct light in the evening and afternoon.

3. Raise the Temperature While You're Sleeping

To save money, reduce energy waste, and lessen your household carbon footprint, you should turn the air conditioner down while you're asleep and away from home. Bring the temperature back to more comfortable levels once you wake up or return from work. 

According to the United States Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% per year on heating and cooling costs by setting the thermostat back by 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day. Have an HVAC contractor install a programmable thermostat to automate the process.

If your air conditioner isn't properly cooling your home this summer, contact Wise Home Energy in Rochester, NY. This HVAC contractor offers prompt and dependable air conditioning repairs to homeowners throughout Monroe County. They can also assess your home's energy usage to determine the best solutions for cutting back on waste and saving money. Learn more about their services on their website, or call (585) 270-5836 to discuss your needs.