Scott, speaking to a consumer at a CUB event.
By Scott Allen, CUB’s Energy Policy Specialist
(Editor’s Note: A similar version of this story first ran on April 11, 2017.)
Grandpa Jerry
As the weather turns warm, it’s time to get your home ready for summer. And that reminds me of the jobs I used to do for my grandpa, when I was a kid in Griggsville, Illinois, population 1,200.
Over time, Grandpa Jerry, a carpenter who served as mayor for eight years, had helped just about every family in town, and eventually he recruited me to assist. That’s how I found myself removing storm windows, fixing screen doors and cleaning air conditioners for people in town who couldn’t do it themselves.
Grandpa Jerry would tell you he put me through this summer ritual because he believed school breaks made kids lazy, and, apparently, working for free built character. But he also knew that such seasonal improvements made a home more efficient, and that lowered air conditioning bills.
So in honor of grandpa, who passed away in 2010, I give you this checklist to prepare your home for the dog days ahead.
Give your air conditioner a checkup. Once a year, get your air conditioner inspected by a professional heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) specialist. Making sure your AC system is properly maintained can help you save hundreds a year. If you take the small financial hit to pay for yearly maintenance, you’ll avoid having to replace the whole system if it breaks.
Also, remember you don’t need a contractor to clean your air conditioning unit’s filter. It’s an easy way to improve performance and save energy.
Fix winter damage. The winter season can create a number of problems for efficiency. Check to make sure your windows and doors haven’t been damaged so that when you use your AC in the summer, the cool air stays in your house.
Locate & seal air leaks: Keep hot air out and cool air in by sealing leaks with caulk or weather-stripping. If needed, add foam-insulating sheets behind outlets and switch plates, and between walls. Don’t forget to also check the insulation of unconditioned spaces like attics. Remember, many Illinois utilities offer rebates for sealing and insulation. Just ask.
Take out storm windows and doors. Remove your storm windows and replace your glass front doors with screen doors so you can allow natural breezes to circulate in your home on milder days.
Think about investing in fans. By investing in and strategically using floor and ceiling fans, along with other sources of ventilation, you can get away with setting your thermostat one to two degrees higher and save money on your power bills.
Change your ceiling fan direction. In winter months, your ceiling fan should rotate clockwise (from your position looking up at it) to help rotate warm air that has risen. In the summer, though, you should run your fan counter-clockwise to get a breeze going. Your ceiling fan should have a small black switch on it that lets you change the direction of the spin.
Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat. Having a programmable thermostat can help you save energy without thinking about it. You can program a slightly higher temperature when you’re at work or sleeping to make sure you don’t waste any energy when you don’t have to. For a higher end device, consider purchasing a smart thermostat, which adjusts the temperature based on your behavior and can be controlled remotely.
Take advantage of efficiency programs offered by your utility. Find out what energy efficiency programs your utility (ComEd, Ameren, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gasand North Shore Gas) offers. Many offer rebates on smart thermostats and/or other energy efficient appliances. Also, many utilities, ComEd and Ameren, for example, offer a free home energy assessment, in which customers can receive free or discounted efficiency items, such as a programmable thermostats, low-flow showerheads, and efficient bulbs. offer programs like this.
Dust off the grill: I had to add this. Grills keep heat out of the kitchen, meaning air conditioners don’t have to work harder to cool it off. (My personal grill favorite is salmon, mushrooms and potatoes.) If you don’t have a grill, consider using the microwave to cook on especially hot days.
Visit CUB’s Clean Energy page and read our WatchBlog for summer tips.
