Reduce cooling costs in summer | The Apopka Voice

(NAPSI) – When the monthly electric and gas bills arrive, many Americans become angry.

According to the National Energy Directors Association, residential cooling costs this summer are expected to be the highest in a decade, averaging $719, or about $173 per month.

To make matters worse, considering the higher cooling costs in the summer, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) summer assessment states that warmer-than-average summer weather predicted for 2024 could cause problems in parts of the country. The FERC chairman recently stated, among other things, “Our country is facing an unprecedented increase in demand for affordable electricity while also facing extreme weather conditions that threaten the reliability of our grid.”

To counteract the need for more air conditioning and the resulting operating costs, the nonprofit International Window Film Association (IWFA) recommends the professional installation of heat-blocking window films. These reduce indoor temperatures by deflecting the sun’s heat by up to 80 percent.

“Professionally installed, state-of-the-art window films can help consumers reduce their energy bills and improve window performance by blocking a significant portion of the indoor temperature increase caused by sunlight during the cooling season,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of IWFA, the world’s authoritative source for window film information.

By applying window film to the glass, the interior temperature of a home can be made more pleasant and balanced without having to exclude natural daylight.

Compared to the cost of replacing windows, long-lasting window films are very cost-effective and most installations can be completed in a day or less without significantly disrupting daily household activities.

Consumers should also check with their professional installer to determine if the window film selected for installation is tax deductible under the Inflation Reduction Act. For more information, visit www.iwfa.com.