A Cooler Home Starts with these Energy Savings Tips

By Colton Cowden, Energy Advisor

I recently visited a home in our service area to conduct an inspection through TVA’s Energy Right Program for a customer who had a new HVAC unit installed. As I walked through each room with the homeowner, we talked about insulation, air flow, and the little things that make a big difference in energy efficiency. What stood out to me most wasn’t just the improvements we discussed – it was the homeowner’s enthusiasm. She was genuinely excited to make changes, not just to save on her monthly electric bill, but to make her home more comfortable during these hot summer days.

She told me how difficult the past few summers had been, with rooms that never seemed to cool down and an old HVAC unit that ran constantly. But as we talked through some simple additional improvements she could make like sealing windows and switching out light bulbs, she could already imagine the difference it would make. It’s visits like these that remind me how powerful a few smart changes can be.

With temperatures in the 90s this week, now is the perfect time to think about ways to help your home beat the heat without breaking the bank. Here are some of my top summer energy-saving tips:

• Raising your thermostat just one or two degrees can make a difference in energy use.
• Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. They cool people, not spaces.
• Close blinds or curtains on the sunny side of your home to reduce heat gain.
• Keep interior doors open to help your air conditioner distribute cool air evenly throughout the house.
• Switch to LED bulbs, which give off less heat and use less energy than the incandescent ones.
• Keep all exterior doors closed, including garage doors, to keep the cool air in and the hot air out.
• Replace or clean your return air filters every 30 to 90 days to help your system run efficiently.
• Check and reseal windows and doors with fresh sealant or weather stripping to stop air leaks.

If you're ready to take the next step in making your home more energy efficient, TVA’s Energy Right Program is a great resource. You can find trusted contractors and explore rebates for energy upgrades – all through a program designed to help you save energy and money.

Visit energyright.com/residential to get started.