Energy and cost-saving tips to keep your home cool

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — As the summer sun continues to beat down on the Tennessee Valley, many of us are cranking up the air conditioners and paying more for our utility bills.

HVAC systems account for about 50% of the energy used in homes, so anything you can do to lessen the work those systems are doing will bring down utility costs.

During the day, close your windows and blinds. TVA recommends you replace your HVAC filter every month.

You can also make sure your system is running more efficiently. TVA is offering a $50 rebate to anyone who gets a tune-up for their air-conditioning system.

First, you should check the list of eligible rebates for homeowners and businesses . To qualify for a rebate, you must use a TVA contractor .

If it is time to replace your HVAC system, TVA is also providing larger rebates to anyone who installs an energy-efficient, TVA-approved system.

“TVA is working to build new facilities where we can generate power and improve our transmission system, but we’re also trying to help people and empower people to take control of their energy consumption,” said TVA spokesperson Clarissa McClain. “These programs and these rebates and incentives will help make sure that demand can go down because our region is growing and there’s a lot of demand right now.”

If you are curious about your energy usage, TVA offers a Home Energy Evaluation that provides customized energy and money-saving tips.

If you are struggling to pay high utility bills this summer, there are assistance programs across the Tennessee Valley ready to help. Many are designed to assist older adults, people with disabilities and low-income households.

You can see the full list of those programs here:

Colbert County

• Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

DeKalb County

• Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Franklin County

• Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Jackson County

• Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Lauderdale County

• Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Lawrence County

• Community Action Partnership of North Alabama
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Limestone County

• Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison County
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Lincoln County, Tenn.

• South Central Human Resource Agency

Madison County

• Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison County
• Huntsville Utilities (Project Share)
• Catholic Center of Concern
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Marshall County

• Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Morgan County

• Community Action Partnership of North Alabama
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

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For more tips, you can visit the TVA’s EnergyRight blog, ‘The Current,’ here .

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