The moon covered the sun for a few minutes earlier this week, but that wasn’t enough for a cool down. When the sun gets too hot, it can affect your mood, behavior, and even your plans. In South Florida, using air conditioners most of the time is a must. If you try to save a buck or two and not use your air conditioner, you’ll end up uncomfortable and sweaty.

Before I get to my best tips to beat the hot weather and save money while using your air conditioning, check out the ecobee3 lite smart thermostat because I’m giving one away to a lucky reader!

What’s the ecobee3? It is a cool new piece of technology that will save you an average of 23% annually on your heating and cooling costs! It’s also ENERGY STAR® certified, so you know it’s good for you and the planet. It works with rooms sensors for comfort and control in the rooms that matter.

This is a $169 value that can be all yours for free!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, let’s get back to my best tips to beat the hot weather and save money while using your air conditioning.

Tip 1: Check your Filters

Check your air conditioner’s filter once a month to ensure the air being produced is flowing through unobstructed – especially during summer when allergens can grow fast in the air conditioner’s filter.

Tip 2: Clean your Filters

Naturally, this tip is next. You should clean or replace your A/C filter regularly. It will help your unit run more efficiently. By doing this, your air conditioner will produce much cooler air and make your room cooler, faster.

Tip 3: Control your Thermostat

Keep your thermostat at 78 degrees or warmer with the fan on “auto”. You can also increase the thermostat setting to 82 degrees while you’re out running errands. This trick will help you save five percent on your monthly costs for each degree you raise your temperature.

Tip 4: Grill Wisely

If you want to grill food, avoid doing it in the kitchen as this can make your kitchen hot and humid. Try grilling outside instead.

Tip 5: Use the FPL App

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) launched a new mobile app that enables customers to manage their account with a tap of a finger. (How cool is that?!) This app can also be used on the go as an access to monitor energy usage and discover how the weather impacts your electric bills. This is very handy if you take advantage of tip #3.

Bonus Tip!

South Florida residents are invited to cool off and join the fun at FPL’s Cooling Stations taking place in September.

Guests can take a moment to “chill” out by walking into a larger-than-life ice cube that refreshes with music and a cold blast of liquid nitrogen, along with a fun video of their experience.

The schedule is:

• Palm Beach Zoo: Sunday, Sept. 3 and Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4
• Frost Science Museum/Museum Plaza: Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10
• BB&T Center during Disney on Ice: Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17    
• Zoo Miami: Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24 

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway to win an ecobee3. All participants must be a customer of FPL.

UPDATE: The winner of the ecobee3 lite has been chosen. Congratulations Jonathan Watson. 

 

I’m required to disclose a relationship between my blog and FPL. This could include me being provided with content, product, access, service or other forms of payment.