Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/847264
48 | | Spring 2016 No need to choose between comfort and your budget S ummer often brings on a battle between extreme heat, and extreme bills. If you're constantly forced to choose between your comfort and your budget, the balancing act can make you sweat like you're in an August heat wave. Turns out, it's possible WR FKLOO RXW ERWK SK\VLFDOO\ DQG ÀQDQFLDOO\ during the summer. With a little work around the house, and some smart, targeted spending, you FDQORZHU\RXUHOHFWULFELOOVZLWKRXWVDFULÀFLQJ your comfort. Here's how: Work with what you have. ,QHIÀFLHQWDLUFRQGLWLRQLQJLVRQHRIWKHELJJHVW culprits behind escalating energy bills, experts say. In fact, if you aren't actively maintaining your AC, you're most likely wasting money. Even simple things like just cleaning your air FRQGLWLRQLQJÀOWHUDWOHDVWRQFHHYHU\GD\V FDQJUHDWO\LPSURYHWKHHIÀFLHQF\RI\RXUDLU conditioning, says Andrew Schrage, CEO of Money Crashers. You should also close vents in rooms you're not using, and make sure your fans are running counter-clockwise, he says. Don't touch that dial. (YHQLI\RXPDLQWDLQ\RXUÀOWHUVDQGLQVXODWH your home, you can still overuse your AC. It is recommended that you raise the thermostat WRGHJUHHVZKHQ\RXDUHQ·WKRPHDQG degrees when you are, says Laura Adams of quickanddirtytips.com. She notes that for ev- HU\GHJUHHRYHU\RX·UHZLOOLQJWRJR\RX·OO VKDYHDURXQGSHUFHQWRII\RXUHOHFWULFELOO and adds that consistency is key. Buying a pro- powered by Stay cool this summer SPOTLIGHT grammable thermostat makes achieving that consistency easier — you can set it to shift the temperature in your home at certain times dur- ing each day; they cost around $25 to start but FDQORZHU\RXUELOOE\$QGLI\RXÀQG your place too hot during the day, try old school moves like shutting the drapes to block out the mid-day sun. Purchase a more effi cient unit. If your AC is beyond repair, or if this could be WKH\HDU\RXÀQDOO\VSULQJIRUFHQWUDODLUORRN LQWRJHWWLQJDQHZHUHQHUJ\HIÀFLHQWSURGXFW 6SHFLÀFDOO\ORRNIRUV\VWHPVWKDW´KDYHDVHD VRQDOHQHUJ\HIÀFLHQF\UDWLRRIRUDERYHµ VD\V$GDPV7KHVHDVRQDOHQHUJ\HIÀFLHQF\ ratio is just a way to measure of effectively your AC uses energy.) Even though these units are generally more expensive up front, you'll save enough on your energy bill to make up for it. Before buying central air, though, evaluate whether or not you really need it. If you have a small apartment or home, or only want AC at night in your bedroom, then it's smarter to just buy a window unit, says Schrage. Jean Chatzky is the Director of Education and Editor in Chief of Savvy Money. She is a personal fi nance expert and best-selling author. To get your own fi nancial checkup with Savvy Money today, visit SavvyMoney.com/aacu.