By simply turning on your ceiling fan, you can save $38 per month on your energy bill.
Summer officially begins on the summer solstice, which occurs on June 20 or 21.
Vacations, travel, time at the beach, and other activities are common during the hot summer months, but high energy bills can detract from your enjoyment.
Residential electricity bills from June to August cost an average of $173 per month last year, according to Energy Information Administration estimates, but costs are expected to rise this summer due to high temperatures.
However, consumers can beat the heat and save money on cooling costs by using a little-known setting switch on their ceiling fans.
Simply turn your fan anticlockwise in the summer and watch the savings add up.
By doing so, the fan blades force cold air downward, creating a draft effect that makes you feel cooler even at slightly higher temperatures.
Because the setting switch helps to circulate cold air and cool down the room, you can raise your thermostat a few degrees without feeling uncomfortable.
This reduces your reliance on the HVAC system, which costs approximately $0.36 per hour to operate versus $0.01 to run a fan.
According to estimates, switching the direction of your ceiling fan allows you to raise the thermostat by approximately four degrees without sacrificing comfort, according to a US Department of Energy study.
This can save you between 10% and 12% on your energy bills, but savings may vary.
Hunter estimates that optimising your ceiling fan use can save you up to $38 per month on cooling costs.
However, exact energy savings vary depending on a number of factors, including room size and ceiling fan efficiency.
Consumers can also use this trick in the winter by setting their fans to run clockwise.
This causes an updraft, which pushes the warm air that rises back down.
SAVINGS GALORE
While turning on the air conditioner may appear to be the best way to cool your home, there are other strategies you can use to stay cool while also saving money.
Apartment Therapy recommends one free and simple method: shuffling your furniture.
It is critical to rearrange your rooms so that no pieces block the airflow path that brings cool air into your rooms.
Improving airflow in your home can help reduce the strain on your HVAC system, resulting in lower energy bills.
Check out these other simple ways to reduce your heating and cooling costs.
A little-known refrigerator number dial can save you $400 on your energy bills every year – and it only takes 24 hours.
Plus, it only takes seconds to turn off an easily overlooked dishwasher setting and start saving money right away.
