Technology Tuesdays: Deal with the Heat without Breaking the Bank

Here in California, we had an uncharacteristically mild May and June in terms of weather. Particularly, for those of us living in the San Joaquin Valley, it was truly a welcome change not to need our air conditioners during what I, as a Fresno native, have come to think of as “Spummer.” Spummer is that time of year that should be spring. However, in typical Fresno fashion, we seem to skip right over spring and dive aggressively into summer weather. The days leading up to July 4th and through that weekend more than made up for the mild weather we experienced during the previous two months and there is no sign it will let up any time soon. In fact, temperatures have been soaring over 100°F with just 5 days in the entire month of July that are predicted to have below 95°F temperature highsi. 

This has got me thinking, can energy bills really be affordable when the weather is this hot? 

There are many tips and tricks to help everyone save money during the summer months. However, saving money and affordability are two very different things. Global temperatures will continue to rise, and California is no exception. Average temperatures in California have been steadily raising year over year in every region. In some regions, the Central Valley for example, minimum temperatures have increased more steeplyii meaning it stays hotter for longer. 

So, does this mean we will be forced into making life-altering decisions each time we touch our thermostats? Must we resign ourselves to the idea that if we want to keep our homes reasonably cool throughout the summer, we will have to make significant sacrifices? 

The short answer to all of these questions is “no.” However, we must understand there is no magic bullet. We will have to employ multiple solutions to ensure that we remain as comfortable as possible in our homes during the summer months and not have to miss any meals doing so. 

Of course, there are the obvious things we can do to reduce the burden of energy bills. For example, turn your thermostat up as high as it can go and still allow yourself to be comfortable. For my household, that tends to be around 80°F. Be sure to crank it up a few degrees if you are going to be gone for the day, or for multiple days on vacation. Temperature management is a hands-on activity. Also, don’t forget about your fans! 

Another thing you can do, if you can afford one, is to purchase a smart thermostat. The IOUs still offer rebates to make them more affordable; all you have to do is enroll in their demand response programs. These demand response programs allow your utility to reduce your energy load during pre-determined peak times to help reduce your energy costs. You can find additional information about these programs and rebates depending on your utility provider here: PG&E, Southern California Edison (SCE), SDG&E. 

Another way to reduce your energy cost is to install solar panels and the utilities have programs that will assist with this including financing for the purchase of solar panels including options for no money down. There are also options for leasing solar panels. Information on solar by utility can be found here: PG&E, Southern California Edison (SCE), SDG&E. 

The TECH program will assist homeowners with making the switch from natural gas appliances to more energy efficient electric appliances which will make it easier to take advantage of renewable energy. The program offers incentives as well as measures such as heat pump water heaters and heat pump HVAC. There is additional information about the program HERE. 

The savings never stop! 

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