Summer in the Rio GrandeValley is not a good time to suffer the effects of inflation, especially with regard to utility bills. Many local utility companies insist that they haven’t raised their charges per kilowatt hour, but if their bills have a separate charge for the cost of fuel, that’s where the largest increase on one’s bill is likely to appear.
The heat itself is a major contributor to higher bills, as it forces air-conditioning units to work harder. Families who live in homes that don’t have central air conditioning probably are running window units and fans longer and at higher settings.
Fortunately, the summer is half over. Even as we endure the dog days of summer, it might be of some solace to note that September, and, we hope, cooler temperatures, are a little more than a month away.
In the meantime, people looking to lessen the financial strain of dealing with the heat might be able to find a trick or two.
Certainly, some of the best ways to save money require some planning, or might not be available now but can be considered before the next major hot spell. Essentially, they involve planning for such spells when making home improvements or buying a new home. Skimping when building, making repairs or renovations can prove costly down the road on utility bills and reduced life of climate-control units.
One of the primary causes of high utility bills is insufficient insulation. While bulky strips of fiber-based insulation was common in days past, more efficient materials include thin sheets of closed foam that many homeowners can drop into the walls of their homes from the attic or crawlspace.
One old debate involves what to do when the dwelling is empty while people work or go shopping. Industry officials agree that it actually is better to leave central air conditioners running. Modern units don’t only keep the building cool, but they also have humidity and other climate-control functions, and work harder — using more energy and decreasing the units’ life — than simply leaving the unit running.
That said, one can save money with a programmable thermostat that can raise the temperature a few degrees when the home is empty and bringing it back down before people return. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests setting empty-home temperatures to around 78, and 68-72 degrees when a home is occupied. Rather than start from zero if it’s turned off, the programmable thermostat reduces the unit’s cooling cycles.
Older residents often are more sensitive to extreme heat. Health officials advise going to a public place, such as a mall, during the hottest time of the day, especially if they live in an older home without central air-conditioning.
People who use that option might find a secondary benefit, if they encounter mall walkers — people who gather and march around the interior of the mall for exercise. Surely they would welcome new members.
What’s important is finding ways to stay out of the heat while trying to save money on electricity bills. Heat-related illnesses can be devastating, and even fatal.
A little thought can help mitigate the cost of fighting the heat — if not now, then in the future.
