Summer Savings
When the heat of summer hits, temperatures are not the only thing that can increase. Your utility bill can too. Trying to manage your summer utility costs can be a difficult task, especially when your family is spending more time at home and indoors to beat the heat.
Simple Summer Savings Tips
To help you manage utility costs, try these simple yet highly effective savings tips to help you manage your utility bill this summer.
Check Your Daily Usage Graph
Did you know you can log into your jea.com account and see how much energy or water you've used in the past two weeks? This will help you see which days you're using more of your utilities, as well as let you gauge your usage in comparison to the day's high and low temperatures.
Give Your AC a Break
- Set your thermostat on 78⁰ when home and 85⁰ when away. If you have a pet, you should not turn your thermostat above 80⁰. When the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures is small, your cooling bill will be lower.
- Consider scheduling a service for your HVAC system to ensure it is running properly and at full capacity.
- Clean or replace your AC filters regularly to maximize efficiency.
- Clean the area around the outdoor AC unit and keep it shaded, if possible.
- Turn your thermostat up a couple degrees and run a fan to help make up the difference, make sure to turn it off before the leaving the room. Remember, fans cool people, not rooms.
Make Small Changes that Make a Big Impact
- Avoid going in and out of your home repeatedly to keep cool air in and hot air out.
- Take advantage of daylight and try to limit your use of artificial lighting.
- Use the washer with full loads using cold water and consider hanging your clothes to dry.
- Try grilling outside, using the microwave or cooking with a CrockPot or the InstantPot instead of your stove or oven. Small appliances typically use less energy and keep your kitchen cool.
- Set the temperature of the water heater to 120ºF and wrap with a specially designed insulation blanket if the tank exterior becomes warm to the touch.
Invest in Your Home's Efficiency
- Add/repair weather stripping or caulk around the windows and doors to prevent leaks.
- Check if your attic and walls have proper insulation and are sealed to keep warm air out.
- Consider updating old appliances to energy efficient models.
Water Smart
- Follow watering guidelines for watering your lawn and inspect your system to ensure it is working properly.
- If the weather forecast calls for rain, turn off your sprinklers ahead of time. A properly functioning rain sensor should do this automatically.
- Catch rainwater in a barrel and reuse it to water plants.
- Wash your car with a bucket of soapy water instead of constantly running the hose. If you’d rather go to a car wash, look for one that recycles their water.
More Ways to Save
Did you know JEA offers free efficiency and irrigation assessments, money-saving rebates, and more - all to help you save on your JEA bill?