NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As Middle Tennessee experiences extreme heat throughout the week, Nashville Electric Service has given tips to residents looking to save money and conserve energy.

According to NES, HVAC units are the main cause of high electricity usage and high utility bills during the summer. Here are five tips from NES to stay cool and save money:

1. Set your thermostat a few degrees higher

"One of the recommendations is to run your thermostat at 78 degrees," NES Vice President Jack Baxter told News 2 last month. "I know that's really hot for some people. If that's above your comfort level, if you can just raise your thermostat a couple degrees, that helps with conservation. It also helps out on your energy bill."

NES said that even a few degrees higher than the most comfortable setting is a step in the right direction. Additionally, you can use ceiling fans to keep air flowing when you’re at home to reduce the temperature when you’re in a room; when you leave the room, though, remember to turn fans off. During the summer, your fan should spin counter-clockwise to circulate cool air.

2. Re-think which appliances you use to cook

NES recommends using the microwave instead of the oven for cooking your meals. Microwaves use about 50% less energy than a conventional oven, according to NES. When possible, you could also try cooking outside with a grill to avoid heating up the inside of your home as much.

Every time you open the door, the oven's temperature drops about 25 to 30 degrees and more energy is used trying to reheat it to the proper temperature. If able, use the oven light to check on your dish instead.

If you're interested, you can follow this link to learn how much energy your appliances use and how much that will cost you each year.

3. Keep your garage door and some of your curtains closed

This will help stop hot air from trickling into your home. NES also recommends opening blinds on the shady side of your home to provide natural lighting.

4. Check and upgrade your windows

While you're closing your curtains, you should also check your windows to make sure there's no missing glass, rotting wood or broken parts that might be letting cool air escape. You can use caulk or weather stripping to seal any leaky windows or even an exterior door.

NES recommends storm windows if your windows are damaged beyond a quick repair. They're often available at both big-box stores and independent window retailers and can be left in place year-round.

If your windows are still in good shape, NES said attaching low-e storm windows can help make your home more energy efficient at a much lower cost than a total window replacement. Overall, they can improve energy savings by about 10% to 15% more than standard storm windows.

You can also try applying heat shrink film to your windows, which looks like a thicker version of plastic wrap, to provide a better seal around the window and can be attached to the frame using double-sided tape.

5. Turn off lights and unplug electronics when not in use

All unnecessary appliances like coffee makers, microwaves, toaster ovens, hair dryers and curling irons can still drain electricity even when not in use. NES recommends making a habit of unplugging all those unnecessary appliances before leaving for the day.

That also includes unplugging chargers once your devices are powered up and fully powering down things like video game consoles. You can follow this link to find out how much energy your TV uses and help you make informed decisions when shopping for a new one.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/money-saving-energy-conserving-extreme-heat/