Heating and Cooling Energy Efficient Tips for College Living

When the weather gets chilly, it gets difficult for college students not to touch that thermostat to keep warm at night. But turning your home into a sauna can be costly – and it isn’t energy efficient, either. Here are a few simple heating and cooling tips for campus living in dorms and apartments:

First, set your thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter and then leave that dial alone. With each degree decrease on your thermostat in the winter and increase in the summer, you can immediately see a three to four percent decrease in energy use.

Make sure that furniture, curtains, rugs and other items do not block vents and registers to make sure that air flow is sufficient throughout your home. On winter days, open window shades that allow direct sunlight to enter to help heat your home. On summer days, close shades to block the sun’s rays.

If your heating and cooling equipment is in your unit, clean or change the filters every three months. A dirty filter makes your equipment work harder – which will result in higher bills. In summer, avoid using appliances that produce heat during the hottest times of the day.

Use these tips to save energy and cut down on expensive monthly payments!