It's no secret that it can get fairly hot during the summers here in Albuquerque. It's not like we can just run to a nearby beach to cool off. Most people who live in Albuquerque stay cool with the air from their AC. If you plan to move to the area, you probably know that air conditioning is especially desirable during the summer.

 

But the problem with leaving your AC running all summer is the high energy costs. In fact, AC units account for around 12% of home energy expenses, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Yet that doesn't mean you can't find ways to keep these costs lower.

 

What are some ways to reduce your energy costs?

 

Lessen direct sunlight.


Albuquerque can get plenty of sunlight during the summer months. And the hotter your home gets, the harder your AC has to work, raising your energy costs.

 

The easiest way to keep the sun out of the house is to close your drapes and blinds on all the windows during the day, and close the windows to keep out the warm air. You might also plant trees and shrubs on the west and east sides of the house.

 

And since nights are fairly cool in Albuquerque, take advantage of that cool air by opening windows at night and directing air in with fans in the windows. Fans take up much less energy and will bring the core temperature of the home down.

 

Let your AC unit rest.


Not every day is a scorcher. When the temperature get low enough to be comfortable, turn off the AC completely. This will give your unit a break and lower your energy costs.

 

Don’t touch the thermostat.


You might be tempted to set your thermostat to it's lowest level when temps go up. But that can make a huge increase in your bill. Try setting your thermostat to a consistent level of 78 degrees. This should be enough to keep both you and your energy bill cool.

 

Use ceiling fans.


Ceiling fans can be your AC unit's best friends. If you run your ceiling fans when you run the AC, you can even adjust the thermostats to 80 degrees, reducing your energy costs by 15-25%!

 

Keep the air filter clean.


Dirty air filters can affect the airflow in your AC, which makes it work even harder. And of course, this increases energy costs. Air filters need to be replaced or cleaned regularly every 90 days for optimal AC performance.

 

Keep cool for the rest of the summer in Albuquerque and save money!

 

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

 

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