As we find ourselves in, statistically, the warmest month of the year, we also are finding that our energy bills are dramatically increasing due to air conditioning and fan use. In this difficult and unpredictable economy, we are seeing energy prices that continue to rise, forcing us to conserve wherever we can.
In light of the summer months and the increasing energy prices, I am providing you with the following tips, which can help keep your energy bill down this summer. Among them:
- Use fans instead of air conditioners to create a wind chill effect that will make your home more comfortable. If you must use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat about four degrees with no reduction in comfort;
- ENERGY STAR® labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent. Find retailers near you at http://www.energystar.gov/;
- Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense; and
- Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
One major success of the 2009 Legislative Session was the passage of the Green Jobs-Green New York Act of 2009. The goal of this program is to make one million homes, businesses, and non-for-profits in New York more energy-efficient, while creating thousands of new jobs over the next five years. This legislation was one of the most important measures that we passed this session because many New Yorkers cannot afford to make energy-efficient improvements to their home. This program will give homeowners access to incentives that will help them do so.
I have provided you with just a few ways that can help reduce your energy bill during these hot summer months. If you would like more information on energy saving techniques, you can visit the United States Department of Energy Web site at http://www.doe.gov or contact my district office at 315-866-1632.