There are so many things to look forward to when it’s summertime in North Carolina: backyard barbeques, trips to the beach, pool parties, and so on—and high power bills are not one of them. It oftentimes becomes a struggle trying to balance keeping your home cool and trying to keep your power bills low. Follow our suggestions below to get the best of both worlds!

1. Air-tight barriers: Ensure your home is protected from outside heat by installing an air-tight barrier, preferably spray foam insulation. This barrier will stop air leakage, therefore allowing your air conditioner to not have to work double time this summer. This will dramatically reduce the cooling costs of your home. 
2. Replace air filters: One way to make sure your A/C unit is running smoothly is to replace your air filters. Air filters should be replaced every 1-3 months.
3. Thermostat timer: Install a thermostat timer so you can control when your air conditioner is running and at what temperature. Set your thermostat to a higher temperature while you aren’t home and set it to cool half an hour before your return.
4. Open windows & doors: On cooler days (if there are any), open your windows and doors and shut off your air conditioner to take advantage of the cool air, especially at nighttime. 
5. Close blinds & draperies: Roughly 30% of unwanted heat in homes comes in through windows. To keep this unwanted heat out, close your blinds and draperies during the hottest hours of the day (roughly between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.). This can be known to keep your indoor temperature 10-15 degrees cooler. You could also consider installing blackout curtains to keep even more unwanted heat out.
6. Portable A/C: Consider purchasing a portable air conditioner to put in the most used rooms in your home.
7. Grill out: Instead of using your oven or stove, which can drastically increase indoor temperatures, get outside and grill out. This will help reduce the temperature of your home. Doesn’t this sound like an easy and fun way to keep your home cool and reduce your power bill? We think so!
8. Dehumidifiers: We know about humidity in NC. Purchasing a dehumidifier will help remove excess moisture from the air leaving you and your home feeling cooler.
9. Unplug: Unplug all unnecessary appliances and electronics when not in use. Everything plugged into a socket produces heat, therefore, unplugging these items will help reduce indoor temperatures and reduce your power bill and your carbon footprint!
10. Utilize vents/fans: Be sure to turn on your stovetop vent and bathroom fans to remove hot, humid air out of the home when cooking on the stove and showering.

Remember these tips and tricks when you start to feel the heat this summer. We hope everyone has a safe and cool summer!