JEA Offers Tips to Keep Summer Bills from Heating Up

2012-06-28

Jacksonville, FL - As temperatures rise so can utility bills. Cooling systems have to run longer during summer, even when the thermostat is set at a fixed temperature. In fact, cooling the house in the summer makes up almost 50 percent of the electric portion of the utility bill. JEA recommends these tips to save on your utility bill.

• Give your HVAC a tune-up that includes:
  • Checking thermostat settings.
  • Tightening all electrical connections.
  • Lubricating all moving parts.
  • Checking and inspecting the condensate drain in the heat pump.
  • Checking controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation.
  • Cleaning evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils.
  • Checking the central air conditioners refrigerant level
• Set the thermostat at 78 - 80 degrees in the summer and 3 -5 degrees higher when you are not home
• Use insulated drapes, blinds, or shades on windows. Efficient use of window shading can save up to 12 percent on the cooling portion of your utility in the summer. JEA has a rebate for window film and solar screens. 
• Use the thermostat "auto" setting instead of the "on" setting for the air handler.
• Use ceiling or box fans in occupied rooms in the summer to make it feel 3 a 5 degrees cooler. Because this will make you feel cooler, you can raise your air conditioning thermostat setting, which saves more money than the cost of running fans. Remember fans cool people not rooms.
• Check and/or change/clean air filters monthly. JEA recommends pleated filters whenever available.
• Seal leaks in the cooling ducts. Don't forget the leaks around the air handler unit. Sealing leaks in ductwork can save 1 - 30 percent on the cooling portion of your utility bill, based upon the size of the leak. JEA has a rebate available for getting duct leakage repaired. 
• Weather strip doors and windows. Repair or replace broken or cracked windows. Weather stripping windows and doors can save up to 8 percent on the cooling portion of the utility bill
• Install a programmable thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat can save 5 - 15 percent on the cooling portion of the utility bill
• Take advantage of JEA’s rebate program, ShopSmart. ShopSmart offers a wide range of rebate programs to save money on those home energy upgrades.

JEA is the seventh-largest community-owned electric utility in the United States and one of the largest water and sewer utilities in the nation providing electric, water and sewer service to residents in northeast Florida. 

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• customer
• education
• electric
• ways to save