Many flock to Florida for its beauty, unique way of living, and tropical weather. Whether you own a home in Apalachicola or a townhouse in Port St. Joe, all Forgotten Coast Floridians have one common goal in the summer, and that is to beat the heat without breaking the bank. It makes sense you don't want your utility bill to sweat in the summer heat, as the cost of running an air conditioner in any home can present a challenge and can make up for a significant part of your home operation budget.
A big benefit of purchasing a new Florida home is the energy-saving technology that can easily be installed in older builds and is currently being added to newer builds, which helps to keep your home cool and comfortable as well as saving you money. In addition to energy-efficient features, shave dollars off your monthly bills without sacrificing your comfort by planning way ahead and getting creative.
Continue to read to find 10 effective methods to save on utilities this summer.
1. Seal Up Your House
Make sure to seal up your home by not allowing money to leak through cracks around doors and windows. We suggest you invest in caulk and weather stripping to seal up any cracks that pests can burrow their way beneath.
2. Invest in Smart Tech
There are a plethora of smart home devices that can be purchased from the store and easily installed in your dated home. These devices typically have a strong focus on energy efficiency and power usage. To save you time and money, keep an eye out for newer builds that come equipped with a programmable thermostat that allows you to schedule a/c usage so it can be optimized for different times of the day, such as when you are away from home.
3. Install Ceiling Fans
Stay cool while you doze with an overhead fan instead of pumping air conditioning throughout the entire house. In the warmer months in Florida, you should run your ceiling fans counterclockwise. Since heat rises, the counter-clockwise motion can help pull the cold air up toward the ceiling. Newer builds make cooling off easy with included ceiling fan prewires built into these homes.
4. Light Bulbs
Newer Florida builds include Sealed LED Recessed Lighting in main living areas, such as kitchens and living rooms, providing 75% energy saving. These light bulbs emit very little heat and provide bright and evenly distributed lighting throughout your home.
5. Ready Your HVAC System
Older homes come with a 7 SEER HVAC system, while newer builds include a 14 SEER unit that will save you over 50% in utility costs. It is also important to clean filters and vents regularly.
6. Know Your Windows
Many windows in newer Florida builds consist of dual panes of glass with a Low-E coating to reflect infrared energy (heat) which reduces heat passing through the glass and into your home. Be sure to keep the blinds closed during the day to drastically reduce the heat in your home.
7. Garage and Exterior Insulation
The best kind of insulation is R-11 Foam Injected Wall Block Insulation. This insulating foam fills the hollow cells in the concrete masonry blocks of your exterior walls and provides a barrier against heat entering your new Florida home.
8. Water Temp
When asked, Bob Jamison of Tuscana Properties offers this advice:
"To enhance energy savings in Florida, particularly with the example of a rapid recovery 50-gallon hot water heater, it's essential to focus on efficiency. Such heaters are engineered to heat water more quickly and maintain temperature with less energy compared to traditional models. By upgrading to energy-efficient appliances like these, homeowners can significantly reduce their energy consumption. Additionally, adopting habits such as reducing hot water usage and insulating hot water pipes can further maximize energy savings and contribute to a more sustainable household."
9. Keep an Eye on the Bathrooms
If you don't plan to spend money on a low-flow toilet, you can make yours far more efficient by dropping a soda bottle filled with sand or water into the back. It will use far less water each time it flushes. Installing a water-conserving showerhead will also save on the water bill.
10. Radiant Barrier
One of the most popular energy-efficient options to save energy is the radiant barrier. This will reduce cooling costs by a game-changing 8-12%. This innovative product can save an estimated $25 a month by doing its job—deflecting heat in the summer and conserving warmth in the winter months.
Learn more about your personalized new Florida home with energy-saving features in the Forgotten Coast of Florida.
