Community Corner

Tips to Stay Cool, Save Cash as Temps Soar to 100

DTE Energy recommends customers only use their air conditioners for 78 degree temperatures and higher if they want optimum energy savings.

As the temperatures outside creep ever closer to triple digits, the numbers on our thermostats tend to increase, too.

However, DTE Energy recommends customers only use their air conditioners for 78 degree temperatures and higher if they want optimum energy savings.

In summer, home cooling typically accounts for up to half a customer's energy costs, according to DTE Energy. 

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So to keep those costs as low as possible, while at the same time keeping cool in the summer heat, here are a few tips from DTE Energy:

  • Don’t turn your air conditioning off when you leave the house. Heat build-up in the walls and furniture makes it harder for your system to remove the heat when you return. Instead, set the temperature up five to 10 degrees, but not off.
  • Use an exhaust fan to blow hot air out of your kitchen while cooling. You’ll save more in cooling costs than the electricity to run the fan.
  • Cook outside on the grill instead of using the oven whenever possible.
  • Run the dishwasher in the evening when the outside air is cooler.
  • Let dishes air dry in the dishwasher rather than using the drying feature.
  • Shade your air conditioner. Direct sunshine decreases its efficiency. A well-placed tree or awning will shade and protect the unit.
  • Minimize the number of times that outside doors are opened and closed. Hot air from outside enters your home every time the doors open.
  • Keep window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.

To find the best setting to save the most energy and money for your home, check out the thermostat calculator on the DTE Energy website.

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