“Air conditioning can account for half or more of electric bills, with outside temperatures directly affecting how often and how long systems must run to cool homes and businesses,” said FPL’s energy efficiency blogger Danielle Mousseau. “While FPL customers already have the lowest bills out of all 55 utilities in the state, we’re committed to helping Floridians manage energy use throughout the warm summer months and make their bills even lower.”

Juno Beach, FL, June 14, 2012 -- With the official start of summer just one week away, FPL reminds customers that weather is the number one cause of higher electric bills, especially as air conditioning usage increases along with rising outdoor temperatures.

“Air conditioning can account for half or more of electric bills, with outside temperatures directly affecting how often and how long systems must run to cool homes and businesses,” said FPL’s energy efficiency blogger Danielle Mousseau. “While FPL customers already have the lowest bills out of all 55 utilities in the state, we’re committed to helping Floridians manage energy use throughout the warm summer months and make their bills even lower.”
Mousseau offers simple tips customers can implement to keep excess light and heat out of their homes, helping air conditioners work more efficiently and saving money in the process.

Window Shading:
Windows and glass doors that face east and west are the most likely to let unwanted heat into your home. Here are some ways to shade the area:

Landscaping - Customers must plan before they plant. Consider the mature size of plants and their distance from power lines.

Awnings - These work best when the sun is high in the sky. They shade windows well but are not cost effective based solely on energy savings.

Window Coverings - These reduce the amount of heat that enters from the sun. They shade windows well but are not cost effective based solely on energy savings.

Weather-stripping:
This is an inexpensive solution to help reduce the amount of air that enters or escapes a home through doors and windows. Types of weather-stripping include:

V-shaped vinyl
Adhesive-backed foam
Spring metal
Door sweep

Caulking:
Caulking is an additional way to reduce unwanted airflow. It is only worthwhile when done as part of another project, such as painting. Use silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk because they have the longest life span, work well on most surfaces, and will maintain their elasticity.

Ceiling Insulation:
Adding insulation to a home can reduce heating and cooling costs. Homes built after 1982 are required to have R-19 insulation, which is the level we recommend. However, if a home was built before 1982, it may benefit from adding insulation.
Installing additional insulation:

Keeps unwanted heat out
Reduces the workload of a cooling system
Can result in additional savings on a customer's electric bill

At www.FPL.com/toolkit, customers can view tools and information to help them understand, control and manage bills including top 10 energy-saving tips, an interactive house with energy-saving tips room by room and information on savings when purchasing a new air conditioner. Additionally, customers can get a personalized energy savings plan by completing an Online Home Energy Survey at www.FPL.com/ohes.

Florida Power & Light Company:
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves approximately 4.6 million customer accounts and is a leading Florida employer with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while its typical residential customer bills, based on data available in December 2011, are about 25 percent below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit www.FPL.com.

Contact:
Michelle Catin
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
amelia.gomez@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com/toolkit