COLUMN: Tame your summer energy costs

Summer temperatures can feel just fine when you’re spending time outdoors, yet most of us want our homes to always feel cool and comfortable. That often means cranking up the air conditioning and turning on all the ceiling fans, which typically leads to higher energy bills until fall arrives.

Fortunately there are some ways to keep your home cool without blowing the budget on your utility bill and needing to make cuts elsewhere. Consider these energy-saving steps this summer:

• Invest in a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to adjust the temperature in your home up or down based on your schedule and when you want to save energy. For example, you could have it set to a higher temperature while you’re at work during the day and a different temperature overnight while you sleep.

• Set your ceiling fans to run counterclockwise. Setting ceiling fans to counterclockwise creates a downdraft, which helps build a direct, cooling breeze that reduces the need for air conditioning. This is the opposite of winter, when you’ll want to set your fan clockwise so it creates an updraft that circulates warm air through the room.

• Use fan and ventilation strategies. Make sure to turn off ceiling fans when no one is in the room, use bathroom fans to reduce heat and humidity during and after a shower, and have all fans in your home vented to the outside.

• Schedule routine maintenance for your HVAC system. Clean and maintain your air conditioning system on a regular schedule by a professional. This will ensure your system is working at optimal efficiency at all times, and will likely maximize the lifespan of your HVAC unit.

• Use heat-producing appliances at night. Use your dishwasher and oven at night if your schedule permits. If food needs to be heated, consider using an air fryer or microwave.

• Prevent air leaks. Prevent hot air from leaking into your home by sealing cracks and openings around windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping. Installing foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on walls can also keep cool air in and hot air outside where it belongs.

• Zoning. Zoning an AC system can significantly increase efficiency by allowing different areas of a building to be cooled independently. This means that energy is only used to cool the areas that need it, rather than the entire space, reducing overall energy consumption. Additionally, zoning allows for personalized comfort levels, preventing overcooling in unused or less frequented areas, and enhancing the system’s lifespan by reducing the workload on the AC unit.

By being more intentional about the energy you use and taking steps to prevent energy loss, you can stay cool this summer without breaking the bank.

One of my primary objectives is to help you achieve your financial goals through a holistic approach that is tax-efficient in my wealth management and tax resolution practice. For more information, visit www.fredtfoxiii.com.

Fred T. Fox III is a Lawton native who owns his own business.