Summer is here and you don’t have to be a world-class weatherperson to make this prediction — it’s going to be a hot one! No, we’re not meteorologists, we’ve just been in Oklahoma for more than 100 years.
You don’t have to sweat your summertime energy use. And you don’t have to sweat, period. Stay cool and comfy during summer’s hottest months — and save energy too — with these four easy, breezy tips to get the most out of your A/C!
1.) Do this: Pre-program your home’s thermostat.
Purchase an ENERGY STAR®-certified Wi-Fi thermostat and get a $75 rebate on us! With a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat, you can set your home’s temperature anytime and anywhere.
Stack up your savings and get paid for making a positive impact by signing up for PSO’s Power Hours program! Enroll your Wi-Fi thermostat to participate in peak events (i.e. when demand for electricity is at its highest) and you’ll receive a $50 e-gift card. Plus, as a thank you for participating you’ll get a $25 e-gift card per thermostat at the end of the summer season.
Not that: Blast the A/C the second you come home.
Don’t put unnecessary strain on your A/C by having it work overtime during the hottest time of the day. Instead, slowly cool your home throughout the day to extend the life of your system and reduce your energy waste.
2.) Do this: Set your temperature higher.
No, we’re not suggesting you turn your home into a sauna. Just set your thermostat a few degrees higher, but at a level where you will still feel comfortable. For every degree you lower your thermostat, your A/C has to work much harder and use more energy. The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F in the summer while you’re home.
Not that: Adjust your thermostat constantly.
Your A/C is meant to only drop the temperature 15–25°F max, so wild swings in your thermostat settings can really crank up your energy use. Stop the wild swings and stick with a temp that keeps you cool and comfortable.
3.) Do this: Run a fan.
Give your A/C some backup and achieve energy savings too. Set your thermostat just a few degrees higher and set your ceiling fans to run counter-clockwise to push cool air down and create a nice breeze. Also, run an energy-efficient fan (box, tower, and table fans work great) in smaller spaces.
Not that: Run the fan when nobody is in the room.
Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn your fans off when the room is empty. Also, don’t run your fan at full blast and keep your A/C running low too. If you do both, you’ll use more energy, not less.
4.) Do this: Give your A/C some TLC.
Your A/C works hard for you, so put in a little effort for it. Clean or replace your A/C’s air filters, as it’s harder to push air through dirty filters. Keep your A/C unit out of direct sunlight, which can lower the surrounding temperatures up to 9°F. And clear away any leaves, sticks or debris around the unit, so it can do its job without obstruction.
Not that: Nothing.
Doing nothing to keep your A/C clean and shaded during the summer means it’s going to have to work much harder and use more energy. Nothing works harder than an A/C unit in an Oklahoma summer, so give yours a helping hand.
Follow these four tips to make sure your A/C is running smoothly, and you’re saving energy, all summer long!