Xcel Offers Tips to Keep Energy Bills Low

(KNSI) – The summer is off to a hot start, which means relying on your air conditioner and the potential for sky-high utility bills.

Xcel Energy is providing consumers with some tips to keep cool without forking over the equivalent of a car payment each month. The company recommends using a programmable thermostat to maximize efficiency. They automatically raise the setting when you aren’t home and then bring it back down when you return.

Turning on ceiling fans and opening interior doors can create a nice cross current inside that reduces the need for air conditioning. Xcel recommends changing your air filter as well. A/C usage can turn into around 50% of your total energy demand on hot days.

There are several other areas of the home where steps can be taken that curb demand. The company says turning off lights and electronics when they aren’t needed are small steps that pay off big.

Other recommendations include replacing incandescent lights with LEDs and only using your appliances when there is a full load. Washers, dryers, and dishwashers should be run in the morning or evening, away from the warmest point of the day.

A full list of tips is here.

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