5 Ways to Reduce Cooling Costs This Summer


As the mercury rises, take proactive measures to slash your cooling bill. Whether you rent or own, these 5 low- and no-cost tips ensure you won’t experience a high-priced energy burn this summer.


1. Use a ceiling fan or other circulating fan. It can make you feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler via the wind-chill effect: A fan doesn’t cool a room, it just makes it more comfortable to be in. “Just remember to turn off the fan when no one’s enjoying it. Otherwise, you waste electricity,” says Ronnie Kweller, spokesperson for the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy, which promotes worldwide energy-conservation initiatives. If you also use an air conditioner, a ceiling fan helps disperse cooled air more efficiently and allows you to raise its thermostat by as much as 4 degrees, with little or no discomfort.

2. Run your AC more economically. “Setting your AC as high as is comfortably possible and using a programmable thermostat to increase temperature when you’re out, or asleep, could easily decrease your summer cooling bill by 10%,” says Christina Kielich, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Energy. Remember: The smaller the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures throughout the summer season, the less you’ll spend. Set your AC’s thermostat to 78ºF instead of 72ºF (if you don’t mind some heat) and you could lop as much as 18% off your summer cooling costs. Coming into to a hot house? Turning the AC to a colder-than-normal setting won’t cool rooms any faster. “You’ll probably forget you turned it down in the first place, resulting in pointless spending,” adds Kielich.

3. Maintain cooling systems. It’s not enough to use an energy-efficient AC and install a programmable thermostat. If you don’t properly care for your equipment, it won’t reduce your cooling costs. Dirty AC filters block airflow and make units work harder to cool your home. Cleaning and/or replacing filters once per month will lower an AC’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%. If you have a central cooling system, be sure that floor registers aren’t blocked with dust—or furniture. A unit’s evaporator and condenser coils (located outside) should also be clear of dirt and other debris (fallen leaves, branches, grass). And clip foliage so that it always remains at least 2 feet from the condenser.

4. Avoid heat buildup during the day. Whenever the outdoor temperature exceeds the temperature inside your home, try to eschew activities that generate a lot of heat, such as cooking on the stovetop and using the dishwasher or clothes dryer. Instead, Kielich suggests microwaving food or grilling it outside, washing dishes by hand and letting them air-dry and hanging clothes on a clothesline. Or, “Try to save these activities until after dark when temperatures have dropped,” says Kweller. And if you must bathe during the heat of the day, always use the bathroom exhaust fan to spot-ventilate and remove excess heat and humidity. Computers, stereos and TVs are also big heat-generators. By simple avoidance, you’ll be save money on electricity—and what it would cost to make that AC work overtime.

5. Close curtains, blinds and shades. Whatever your treatments, you’ll see significant savings if you work to prevent solar heat gain by keeping them drawn all day. “When completely closed and lowered on a sunny window, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45%,” says Kielich. Try to use light-colored treatments: The lighter the hue, the more they’ll deflect the sun’s scorching rays. Hang shades as close to windowpanes as possible, as this enables them to also block outdoor heat from radiating inside. Consider insulated and/or reflective shades, which will also save you money come heating season.

Why This may helps.
According to our house electrical bill. 51% of our electric bill come from aircond.


Recently I meet one russian friends and he ask me to try to Do it Yourself just a little change of my air cond and this is what happen

Even I put my air cond as 26-27 degree.

I am getting so cold.



My bill from $ 506.95 and after 1 month my next bill is only $236.71
I still testing on this method.

This is my calculation

We all know that air-cond is one of the main home appliances that consumed most electricity power.

If you can save the air-cond usage, then you can save some money from electricity bills.
How much is the electricity bill for air-cond if it is ON for one hour?

Calculation of air-cond’s usage:

1 HP (horse power) = 746W(Watt) or 0.746KW(Kilo-watt)
1 KWH (Kilo-Watt-hour) = RM0.286
0.746 KWH = RM0.21 = 21 sen per hour

If you ON 8 hours per day (night) = RM0.21 x 8 hours = RM1.71
Usage for one month = RM1.71 x 31 days = RM52.90
This is the monthly usage for 1 HP air-cond.

Summary on air-cond’s consumption in RM:

1.0 HP = RM0.21 per hour = RM52.90 per month (one day 8 hours)
1.5 HP = RM0.32 per hour = RM79 per month (one day 8 hours)
2.0 HP = RM0.42 per hour = RM105 per month (one day 8 hours)
2.5 HP = RM0.53 per hour = RM130 per month (one day 8 hours)


Energy Efficient Solution
Split Air -Conditioning System

Case Study

Brand : Hitachi

Operation Hours : 8

Thermostat Set Point Before and After : 25c

Total KWH Consumed Before Installation : 5.968

Total KWH Consumed After Installation : 4.1776

% Saving * : 30%

* Saving is determined by the operating condition, operating hours, operating days, peak and
off peak season, maintenance and service, and the ambient tempreture.



This post has been edited by gomydata: Jan 25 2017, 07:39 AM

it is so simple, no need calculation.
buy a house/unit has good ventilation.

my apartment has no air con at all.

I lived three years, when my friend complaint weather is hot, electric bill is high, I caught cold when sleep.

Apartment sure no need air cond, when you are facing south. On top of your house have house, and also air flow is good.
Condo and apartment now come with air cond.

However, ventilation is a good ideas.

good sharing.. thanks ts.
using commercial rate aircond bill=gg

good for sharing,thanks bro

What is commercial rate aircond rate?

Soho? Stay on a commercial title land?

1. Fan is a must have, no brainer

2. Using those smart aircon that basically controls itself/aim the air at where it sense the occupants are etc... is useless. I turned it all off, cause its turns out to be much less efficient compared to manual control.

Facing south only got wind?

I have been doing this for many years.

3 1hp inverter AC, switched on from 9pm till 6am. Daily.

My TNB bill hoovering between RM270 (cold rainy day) to RM340 (hot weather).

May I know what did you changed? Install programmable thermostat?

i am using remote control fans, after 2 year. The technician ask give me an opinion to by past the remote control fans. *rubin fans
Change electronic board charge : RM 180
Change back to manual no remote control, by past the electronic board: RM 130

electronic board on the fans give a lots of problem. Always have to change after 2 years. So I considered changeback to manual fan mote.

Facing south the wind is more cold.

My method is for not a inverter aircond. If you using inverter aircond, it even more safe with this method

I never change or programmable the themostat. I just set my aircond on 25 degree all day, and add a molecule breaker which I bought from russia friend and install into it. So the air become -6 degree. molecule breaker is very expensive is about RM 280.00 for 5 years warranty.

WHat u mean remote control fan?

Those with a hand held remote, with timer, with adjustable speed etc? My whole house using them... national brand.. for the last 15 years.. no issue at all

is a hand held remote fan

Good information

I've been using this philosophy way before I change my AC to inverter unit. More saving with inverter units.

I re read your article but couldn't find what did you do with your air cond. you claimed to save air cond bill but no method being revealed

Basically the method involved is to make your air conditioner work less hard thus reducing the electricity usage for the air conditioner, reducing your overall bill.