/uploads/air-conditioner-8843842-1280.png
Solar basics

How to Lower Electricity Bill in Summer: 10 Proven Tips for Homeowners

20 Jan 2025 7 min read

Summer is the season for backyard barbecues, poolside relaxation, and endless sunshine. It’s all fun and games – until that sky-high electric bill lands in your mailbox.

This should hardly be a surprise, though, given how our need for cooling ramps up during this season (plus the fact that electricity rates rise steadily every year).

According to the latest Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), air conditioning made up about 19% of electricity use in U.S. homes in 2020.

To put it into perspective, if your electricity use were a battery with five bars, one whole bar would be gone just for A/C alone.

In this article, we’ll share 11 practical tips to help you lower your electricity bill in the summer. Some may already sound familiar, but we’ll go deeper to show how even small adjustments can make a big difference.

Regularly Maintain Your AC

If you’ve ever ignored a car’s oil change, you know how performance eventually suffers. The same goes for your air conditioner.

Skipping maintenance leads to reduced efficiency, forcing your A/C to work much harder and use more energy to deliver the same cooling output – which ultimately affects your electric bill.

So, how often should you schedule a checkup? A good rule of thumb is once a year, but always refer to your manufacturer’s guidelines for the best results.

A professional will take care of things like cleaning filters, checking refrigerant levels, and inspecting the system for wear and tear, among other critical A/C maintenance processes.

Most modern A/C units last about 15 to 20 years, so if yours is nearing that range (or showing higher energy consumption than usual), it might be time for a replacement. When upgrading, opt for energy-efficient models, particularly those with the Energy Star logo.

Adjust Your Thermostat

Remember: the bigger the temperature difference between the inside of your home and the outdoors, the harder your air conditioner has to work to keep the indoor environment cool.

By setting your thermostat to a higher – but still comfortable – temperature, you can reduce this temperature gap. Your A/C works less and uses less energy, thereby lowering your cooling costs.

In fact, findings from the U.S. Department of Energy show that you can save up to 10% annually on cooling just by turning your thermostat back 7-10°F for eight hours a day.

For example, when you’re away during the day, you can set it higher, and then lower it back down when you return.

Now, it does take some habit-building to get used to the adjustments. If that feels like heavy work, consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat, which automatically adjusts the temperature based on your schedule.

Use Fans Instead of A/C

What better way to save on A/C costs than to skip it altogether and use a fan instead?

Fans use about 1% of the energy consumed by air conditioners. Based on standard consumption rates, for every minute your A/C runs, a fan can operate for about 70 minutes using the same amount of energy.

Now, practically speaking, most people will agree that fans can’t fully replicate the “cooling” effect of an A/C – and that’s, without doubt, true. Rather than lowering the room temperature, fans create a wind-chill effect that our bodies perceive as cool.

And that’s definitely a good enough alternative to keep cool for the time being while giving your A/C a “rest” and saving energy.

Check for “Energy Leaks”

Ever had that experience where, even after lowering your A/C temperature, your home still isn’t as cool as it should be? In cases like this, your A/C might not be the issue – it could be energy leaks in action.

Energy leaks happen when hot air from the outside passes through gaps or poorly insulated walls. Common culprits include doors, windows, and attic spaces.

The situation described earlier is just one sign of an energy leak. Other signs include drafts around windows, doors that don’t seal properly, and walls that feel unusually warm to the touch.

While you can look for these signs yourself, your best bet is to get the assistance of a certified energy assessor.

Many utility companies offer this service, and they’ll provide you with recommendations, which often include improving your insulation or adding weatherstripping around doors and windows.

Close Doors & Vents

Just as you wouldn’t leave every light in the house on when you’re only sitting in one room, there’s no need to cool spaces no one is occupying.

Closing doors and vents in unused rooms prevents cool air from circulating where it’s not needed.

As a result, your A/C doesn’t have to work as hard or run as long to maintain a cool temperature. The less energy it uses, the lower your electricity bill would be.

Use Window Covers and Add Shade

Window covers like curtains, blinds, or shutters are great protective barriers to reduce heat gain. Awnings, in particular, “can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south-facing windows”, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

If you prefer not to use these physical attachments for functional or aesthetic reasons, reflective window films can help reduce heat and glare by reflecting sunlight

Placing trees or shrubs near your windows is also a good option to cool and shade your home naturally. This is, however, a long-term solution that requires time and effort.

Open Windows and Doors for Cross Ventilation

Didn’t you just tell me earlier to close the doors? Cross ventilation is a different strategy, and this works by opening your doors or windows during the time of day when the outside temperature is cooler than inside – typically during the evening or early morning

By letting cooler air in and warm air out, you can reduce your reliance on air conditioning.

This isn’t practical for everyone though, especially if you live in the Southern parts of the US where extreme heat generally persists into the evening.

Use Cold Water for Your Laundry

Three things are certain: death, taxes – and laundry. So, even in summer, it’s worth finding ways to make laundry more energy-efficient.

As Shawn Shouse, Extension Ag Engineer at Iowa State University, points out in an interview, most of the energy used in washing your clothes is for heating the water, not for running the machine. Using cold water can help reduce energy use without compromising cleanliness.

“This was news to me years ago when one of our human sciences specialists shared it with me.

The vast majority of clothing these days washes just as well in cold water as it does in warm or hot,” he added.

Other Practical Ways to Cut Electricity Bills

We’ve covered some great tips already, but here are a few more simple, practical energy-efficient ways to cut your electricity bills not only during the summer but year-round:

  • Switch to LED bulbs as they are more energy-efficient and last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
  • Unplug devices you’re not using to get rid of “phantom energy” consumption, which can silently add to your electricity bill.
  • Do the cooking outdoors if possible to avoid heating up your home and triggering the need for more air conditioning

Bonus: Take Advantage of Peak & Off-Peak Hours

As we discussed in a previous article about peak and off-peak electricity, peak hours are when electricity rates are highest, typically from the afternoon to early evening. Off-peak hours, then, occur during the rest of the day.

The obvious strategy from a bill-slashing perspective is to do energy-intensive tasks like laundry or dishwashing during off-peak hours instead of peak hours.

This, however, can be a challenge for some as this requires breaking old habits and forming new ones. After all, not everyone can, or wants to, do their laundry at midnight, right?

Another way you can handle this, while still taking advantage of lower rates, is by investing in solar panels.

With the right-sized system, your solar panels can cover 100% of your energy needs during the day. Pair that with solar batteries that store excess energy your panels generate, and you can completely dodge those expensive peak-hour electricity rates.

If you’re looking to go solar, Quote for Solar can help you find solar installers near you who can design and install a system tailored to your household’s energy consumption. Simply request a quote, and we’ll provide three competitive solar estimates for you to easily compare.


If you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends and family, and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more informative content on solar energy and sustainability!

Share this post

portrait.png Jan Watermann Co-Founder, Quote for Solar

Related posts

https://www.quote-for-solar.com/uploads/pexels-davidmcbee-1546168.jpg

HOAs and Solar Panels: Do You Need Approval Before Going Solar?

Imagine being so excited about installing solar panels that you jump right...

https://www.quote-for-solar.com/uploads/air-conditioner-8843842-1280.png

How to Lower Electricity Bill in Summer: 10 Proven Tips for Homeowners

Summer is the season for backyard barbecues, poolside relaxation, and...

https://www.quote-for-solar.com/uploads/contract-1464917-1920.jpg

Solar Panel Leasing Pros and Cons

When we face big decisions like buying a house or a car, we often have the...

More news

Learn More About Solar Offers Across The US 💡