“Sound Ideas” – 18 Summer Conservation Tips

- 1:00 pm - July 28th, 2025

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 Replacing your old window air conditioner units or outdated central air conditioning system with a new, high-efficiency Trane model can reduce your annual energy expenses by as much as 40 percent. And there are many other ways you can improve your home’s energy efficiency during the summer.

Here are 18 warm weather tips to help you save energy and money in your lower Fairfield County, Connecticut home:

1. Set your thermostat at as high a temperature as comfortably possible in the summer, and ensure humidity control if needed. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.

2. Avoid setting 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.

3. Automatically raise the AC temperature at night or when you’re away from home.

4. Consider using an interior fan along with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air through your home without greatly increasing your power use.

5. Keep the coils of your central or window air conditioner free of dust and dirt.

6. Change or clean your air conditioning filter monthly during the cooling season to improve efficiency and extend the life of your air conditioner.

7. Install an attic fan – it can cool your attic by nearly 30 degrees!

8. Make sure ceiling fan blades are spinning counterclockwise, the proper direction for summer.

9. Install a dehumidifier, which can significantly improve your home’s comfort and air quality by removing excess moisture.

10. Clear furniture away from air conditioning vents.

11. Cook on the outdoor grill, to keep cooking heat outside the home.

12. When cooking inside, use a microwave instead of a conventional oven. It uses less than half the power and cooks food in about one-fourth the time.

13. During the hot summer afternoons, avoid using appliances and unplug unused electronics, which can give off background heat even when they’re turned off.

14. Install reflective window coatings to reflect heat away from your home.

15. During the day, block the heat from the sun by closing windows, doors and curtains.

16. Plant shade trees due west of west windows. It could reduce your air conditioning bills by up to 25 percent!

17. Open windows on cool summer days and nights. A good rule of thumb is to open windows when the outside temperature is cooler than the inside of your house.

18. Switch out your light bulbs from incandescent to LED bulbs. Roughly 90 percent of energy consumed by the older bulbs is converted into heat, compared with LEDs at 10 to 20 percent.

Of course, if a central air conditioner repair is in order, our you can count on our highly trained experts to get your unit up and running again.

Call Sound Energy at 203-655-2539 or contact us online for more energy conservation tips, or to schedule AC service. In every season and for every reason, we are here for you!