EPB offers summer energy tips to help residents save on power bills

As temperatures climb during the summer months, energy bills often follow — but experts at EPB say it doesn’t have to be that way.

EPB’s Energy Pros, a team of certified efficiency experts, are offering free advice and resources to help residents manage their energy use without breaking the bank. One of their most popular offerings is the free home energy check-up, which evaluates how effectively a household is using power.

“We look at things in your attic, your crawlspace, your unit, your appliances, your ductwork — different things like that,” said Nate Thomasson, one of EPB’s Energy Pros. “We’ll actually type you up a detailed report assessment of the home’s energy usage, and what we recommend to help lower that usage.”

As Chattanooga heads into the hottest part of the year, Thomasson shared several simple, no-cost tips to help homeowners stay cool:

• Replace air filters regularly

• Add weather stripping around doors

• Close blinds or drapes on the sunny side of the house

• Limit oven use — consider cooking outside or using smaller appliances like an air fryer

Thomasson explained that cooking large meals indoors can actually make your air conditioning unit work harder.

“You go to prepare and cook a big meal inside the home and use the oven, the range, it actually puts a lot of that heat inside the home,” he said.

One of the biggest misconceptions? Turning off the thermostat when you leave the house.

“When you come back home and you turn it on, all that money you saved during the day is actually going out of the window,” Thomasson explained. “It’s having to cool your house down, which could be 80 to 84 degrees, back down to 68.”

Instead, he recommends increasing the thermostat temperature a few degrees when you leave, rather than turning it off completely. It saves energy and puts less strain on your system.

“Our goal is to help you save and make the house more efficient as possible for your scenario,” Thomasson said.

Residents interested in scheduling a free home energy check-up or learning more about EPB’s efficiency programs can visit EPB’s website or contact customer service.