Sun damage to your wallet

June 29, 2009 by Jill Roth 

Summer tips for lowering your energy bill and making your home energy efficient

If you can see past weeks upon weeks of lounging by the pool, frosty, fruity beverages, tanning and for some, a break before another school year, Las Vegas summers do have a down side — expensive power bills.

It is as inevitable as the sweat that will gather in every crevice of your body, regardless of how hard you blast the AC in your car or home. The dread felt during that first walk to the mailbox. The unavoidable walk forces students to face their higher-than-normal power bills.

Summer is supposed to be about fun in the sun, not about being hot and broke. In order to beat the heat and not your wallet, NVEnergy has come to the rescue to keep your home cool and cash in your pocket.

Knowing how to conserve energy and cut costs is on this summer’s “hot list.” Emily Huffman, energy educator in the Customer Renewable Generation & Energy Efficiency Department at NVEnergy offers tips on ways to save money when it comes to your energy bill.

With 18 years of experience in the utility business and eight years in her current position, Huffman’s primary responsibilities are educating customers on how to conserve energy and save money on their utility bills while managing energy efficiency and conservation programs.

The melodic hum of air conditioning units throughout the valley is practically the Vegas summer anthem. As Huffman explained, when it comes to energy conservation, learning how to use your air conditioner effectively is a vital first step toward conservation.

“Up to 65 percent of your summer electric bill comes from using your air conditioner,” Huffman said.

“Try setting the thermostat between 78 and 80 degrees when you’re at home and around five to 10 degrees warmer at night or when you’re not home,” she said, adding that it is important to keep the heat out by closing blinds and drapes and keeping the ground around the air conditioning unit clear.

“My dad used to turn off the air during the day as nobody was home, but our energy bill was outrageous because the AC would work overtime at night,” said UNLV senior Jason Montello. “Now he just turns the temperature up few degrees during the day.”

It is also important to remember to keep air ducts and filters clean and in working order. When filters become clogged, air conditioning units work harder, increasing the cost.

“Spray the filters with a light coating of lemon furniture polish or vegetable oil cooking spray to help trap dirt in the filter and check air ducts for leaks,” Huffman recommended.

Huffman said that students living in homes have opportunities to cut costs and save some green while going green.

“Plant trees and shrubs on the south and west sides of your residence,” she said. “The vegetation acts as insulation and provides shading, reducing thermal gain in a building.”

She added that using fans home will keep the air circulating and make it feel cooler.

If you find tackling home improvements daunting and can’t seem to find a good place to start as the energy bill climbs higher and higher, call in the professionals.

For students living in local apartment complexes off campus, call your maintenance team to schedule an inspection of your unit.

Huffman said energy experts at NVEnergy can point out areas of the house that can be improved and provide free energy audits.

Other areas of importance are your refrigerator, light fixtures and washer and dryer units. These energy guzzling appliances can make energy bills soar.

“When buying products, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses,” Huffman said.

“Energy Star qualified products incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models,” she added. “The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient Energy Star model.”

Whether it is installing energy-saving light bulbs or running your washer and dryer only on the weekends, every little bit counts when it comes to conservation.

Growing concern over our nations rapid decline of natural resources and the interest in becoming more familiar with sources of renewable energy is greater than ever.

“Customers across Nevada can save money and help protect the environment when participating in the Renewable Generations program,” says Huffman.

Huffman urges people to improve their current energy systems before completely switching to a renewable energy system.

Learning how to save money through conservation does more than just keep your summer savings stocked. It can keep the planet clean for generations to come.