Air Conditioning & Cooling Tips |  Greensboro Air Conditioning | High Point HVAC Articles, Thomasville

Summer is rapidly approaching and people are looking for ways to lower their energy bills while still staying cool. Before getting tempted to lower your air conditioning thermostat down to freezing, try out these money and sweat saving tips. These great air conditioning tips and cooling techniques can work for homeowners in Greensboro.

Keep your thermostat set to a temperature that is as high as you can stand while still remaining comfortable. It is suggested that thermostats be set above 80 at all times. Having your thermostat set below 80 degrees will really kill your doe. It dramatically increases your energy bill because for every degree you go below 80 your energy use increases by 3 to 4 percent. A 3 to 4 percent energy use increase for every degree can add up really quickly.

If possible time your AC. Do not let your AC run while you are at work all day. That is also a money drainer. Keeping your AC on all day turns your place into a heat vacuum. Let me explain: only so much hot air can cycle into your home at a time. If you leave on your AC then cool air will be constantly pushing hot air out, and once the hot air is out the AC turns off. But! The hot air comes right back and when your AC senses this it will turn right back on. It will do this all day, wasting precious energy that you have to pay for. Setting your AC to turn on an hour before you arrive home should give your place enough time to cool off. If you can't time it, then have it set at least 10 to 15 degrees higher than normal during times that you are not at home. Or simply leave it off until you return home.

Use energy saving light bulbs. Not only will they save you tons of money but they also create the same amount of light. Regular incandescent light bulbs let off 75 percent more heat than CFLs. They also use 75 percent more energy. The choice here is simple, use eco-friendly light bulbs. Also make sure to turn off your lights while you are away and turn off any unnecessary lights while you are home.

Awnings are a homeowner's best friend, along with window screens and even blinds. Anything that will protect your home and windows from direct sunlight will help cool your homes. A lot of heat is created when sunlight hits windows so awnings are a great addition to your home if you really want to keep it cool. They can decrease the temperature in your home by anywhere from 10 to 20 percent depending on the awning type.