LAPLACE — Summer 2019 is here, and Entergy Louisiana is sharing simple energy efficient tips customers can use to help minimize the impact of hot temperatures on energy bills.

There are many paths to saving energy and keeping costs lower without sacrificing comfort, including the following:

Get your A/C inspected to make sure your system is leak-free and operating as efficiently as possible. Don’t forget about air filters, as some units require monthly cleaning or replacing.

Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or the highest comfortable temperature. Every degree lower than 78 equates to a bill increase of up to three percent. Cranking down the A/C to a cooler 72 degrees can increase the energy bill by 18 percent.

Buy a programmable thermostat. As energy use rises, costs also rise. If you spend most of your day outside of the house, set your thermostat to automatically shut off or raise the A/C setting when you’re away. Programmable thermostats with incentives and rebates up to $100 can be purchased at entergysolutionsla-marketplace.com/.

Use fans to cool off, but remember that fans cool people, not rooms. Ceiling fans, box fans and oscillating fans use very little electricity and circulate the air, helping you feel several degrees cooler.

Close blinds, shades and curtains to keep the sun out and the cool air in. Also be sure to close A/C vents in rooms that are not in use.

Seal cracks and holes around doors, windows and ductwork. Inexpensive weather stripping and caulk will help keep the cold air inside the house and the hot air outdoors.

Additional tips can be found at entergynewsroom.com/news/.

For more information, call Entergy at 504-840-2599 or follow EntergyLA on Facebook and Twitter.

 

— Submitted by Entergy Louisiana Communications Director Lee Sabatini