NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The summer heat can be a lot to deal with. Some may settle for a nice, air-conditioned room, but if your unit is constantly running, it’s costing you a lot.
Barbara Henderson, a Nashville native, described the struggle.
“It’s horrible. The humidity and then if you have allergies. It’s really hard on you," Henderson said.
Air conditioning units work overtime to keep homes cool, but this comes at a price.
“May was so mild it teased us to think, you know, it’s going to be a nice summer, but then the 90s came and they seem to be here to stay," said Amy Byers from Middle Tennessee Electric.
The high temperatures lead to high energy bills. “
The time of year we get the most calls for members to complain about their high bills is right after we had a heatwave or in the winter when we had a cold snap come through,” Byers said.
Henderson has her money-saving habits.
“In the summers my blinds are basically closed. I do laundry early morning when it’s cooler. I microwave my food. I don’t cook every day. I do laundry every two weeks,” she said.
Henderson keeps her thermostat at 78 degrees most of the year, starting in March or April. Turning off the lights is potentially another way to save money.
Despite some skepticism about her routine, Henderson managed to save significantly on her utility bills, averaging $95 a month through Nashville Electric Service (NES).
“I used to have a $200-$300 utility bill, so now I take the $150 or $200 I save and put it up for travel. I’m going on a two-week vacation,” she said.
For those who can’t handle 78 degrees?
“Every degree you can raise your thermostat in the summer, you’re going to save 3% per degree," Byers said.
June marks the beginning of this heatwave, so making simple changes now can help save money in the future.
“It is a sacrifice, but you can make it work," Henderson said.
Experts recommend regular maintenance of your HVAC unit and unplugging unnecessary appliances, like your coffee maker, microwave, and toaster, before leaving for the day.
MTE has other money-saving tips by tapping here.
Fostering Hope provides Christmas for kids in foster care. I'm delighted to see Fostering Hope expand this year to expand their reach to now include kids in Foster care in metro AND foster kids in East TN hard hit by Helene.
-Bree Smith
