Reducing your electricity bill this summer: Small tips that can save you a few bucks

Children in a pool. (Juan Salamanca/pexels.com)

As the hot weather settles in, Quebecers across the province are turning on their air conditioners and taking dips in their pools.

But how much can these little summer luxuries increase your electricity bill?

“On an annual basis, air conditioning accounts for about five per cent of household consumption in Quebec,” Cendrix Bouchard, a spokesperson with Hydro-Quebec, tells Noovo Info.

In comparison, heating accounts for about 50 per cent of an annual household bill, he notes.

Swimming pools, however, are a different story.

“The highest consumption point in the summer for families with swimming pools is the pool itself,” said Bouchard. “It can account for up to 70 per cent of consumption during the summer.”

Here are a few simple steps you can take to save some cash over the next few months:

Opt for a heat pump

According to Bouchard, using a heat pump for air conditioning can be an “excellent idea.”

Not only can it keep you cool in the summer, it can also heat your home in the winter.

“With one unit, you can produce three times more heat in a home,” he said, adding people could see savings of 40 per cent on their bills.

Hydro-Quebec’s LogisVert program also offers financial assistance of up to $6,700 towards the purchase of a heat pump.

Small gestures that count

Some everyday deeds can help lower your air conditioning bill without costing a penny.

One suggestion? Closing the curtains on windows that are exposed to direct sunlight.

“This will prevent heat from entering your home and then having to air condition it,” said Bouchard.

You can also choose to only air condition the rooms you use or add fans.

“If you use an air conditioning system and set the temperature two degrees above the desired temperature, with the help of ceiling fans, you can get the same result,” he explains.

This can save up to 14 per cent on an air conditioning bill, Bouchard states.

Pool pricing

To limit pool-related expenses, one way to save money is to cover it every night to prevent heat from escaping.

“This can result in savings of around 45 per cent,” said Bouchard.

You can also set your pool filtration system on a timer.

“If you run the pool system between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. instead of 24 hours a day, you can save around 45 per cent,” he said.