Anatomy Of Your Tampa Bay Energy Bill: Where Your Money’s Going And Where You Can Save

Very warm temperatures are fast approaching in the Tampa Bay area, which means your energy bills will go up. Steps you take to lower these bills have another benefit, too: They’ll reduce the wear and tear on the equipment you rely on for comfort and convenience. While cooling is a major expense, energy savings can be found throughout your home.

Heating and cooling

Heating and air conditioning comprise about 45 percent of the typical U.S. household’s utility bills, with those costs rising in our region in the spring, summer and fall. To reduce costs:

  •  Schedule regular HVAC maintenance for heating and cooling equipment. Annual maintenance ensures that your system will run more efficiently.
  • Check your HVAC’s air filters once a month. Dirty filters are the most common cause of system inefficiency and breakdowns.
  • Install a programmable thermostat, especially if your home remains unoccupied during the day.
  • Add insulation to your attic to slow the unwanted transfer of heat into or out of your home.

Water heating

Water heating comprises about 11 percent of your home’s utility expenses. Save money by:

  •  Insulating your water heater to reduce standby energy losses. Fiberglass blankets are available at home improvement stores.
  •  Turning the water temperature down to 120 degrees. Besides lowering heating costs, this helps prolong the life of your water heater, because hard water deposits form more slowly at lower temperatures.
  •  Replacing showerheads with low-flow models.
  •  Running only full loads in dishwashers.

Laundry

Doing laundry represents about 10 percent of your energy bills. If you don’t already, consider:

  •  Washing only full loads. A washer uses the same amount of electricity regardless of the load size. Use hot water sparingly.
  • Keeping the lint trap in your dryer clean, increasing the airflow.

Miscellaneous

When replacing light bulbs, electronics or a refrigerator, choose Energy Star-qualified products to lower the remaining 34 percent of the energy you use at home.

Simpson Air has been serving the Tampa Bay area since 1999. We can help you reduce your energy bills by readying your HVAC equipment for the long summer just ahead.

Simpson Air – The Coolest Guys in Town! services the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. Contact us today for your heating and cooling needs!