Save Money This Summer With These Energy Efficient Tips

As summer approaches, it is imperative to be energy efficient to avoid high energy bills.  As a home owner, there are several measures that you can take to control, or lower, your monthly utility bills.  These suggestions will improve the way your home uses energy, and even offer ideas that you and your family can implement to be more energy efficient during the coming hot, summer months.

 

Air Conditioning

 Monitor your heating and cooling systems.  Replace air filters once a month to maintain an adequate and clean air flow which will reduce energy costs.

  Keep the registers and vents free of dust, dirt and other blockages.

  Keep vents and doors closed in rooms that aren’t used.

  Give your AC a tune up.

  Set your thermostat fan to “auto” instead of “on”.

  Open interior doors so that cool air will flow freely throughout your home.

  Grill outdoors more often during the hot summer months.  The oven and stove will force your AC to work harder.

  Keep outdoor air unit clean and clear of debris.

  Keep your thermostat around 78 degrees.

  Dress appropriately for the weather so you can keep your thermostat as high as possible.

Insulation

  Add or replace insulation.  Appropriate insulation can save you up to 30% on your heating bill.

  Insulation of attic, floors, exterior walls and crawl spaces can help prevent energy loss.

  Choose high-quality materials and replace matted or town insulation.

 

Windows and Doors

  Use shades, blinds, drapes, awnings, trees and shrubs to shield the sun from heating up your home, whether it is inside or an outdoor porch.

  Caulk and add weather stripping around windows and doors, as your home may have small openings around doors and windows that allow for heat or cool air loss.  Caulk and weather stripping can reduce energy loss and protect your home from moisture damage.

  Install storm windows and storm doors for spring and summer.   This can reduce energy usage by serving as a barrier to your outdoor environment.

  Don’t leave windows or doors open when the AC is running.

  Replace windows with high-performance windows to eliminate “hot spots”.

Ceiling Fans

  Install ceiling fans to help more evenly distribute cool air generated from your AC.

  Switch the ceiling fans to counter clockwise in the summer.

  Turn off kitchen and bath fans immediately after use.

Water

  Shut off water when you brush your teeth, wash dishes by hand, etc.

  Run the washer and dishwasher only when they are full.

  Fix leaky faucets.

  Wrap your water heater with insulation or install an insulating blanket.

  Set your dishwasher to economy mode.

  Wash your clothes and shower with cold water.

  Reduce your water heater temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees.

  Check hot water pipes for leaks.

Lighting

  Turn out lights not in use.

  In the cooler parts of the day, open the windows and let Mother Nature light your home.

  Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.  They use 75% less energy and last ten times longer.

  Use low-watt bulbs when lighting is not critical.

  Place floor lamps and hanging lamps in corners.  The reflection of the light on the walls will create more light.

  Turn off outdoor lighting during the day.

  Use motion detector lights for outdoor lighting at night.

 

Appliances

  If you need to buy more appliances, get the most energy efficient models that you can afford.  Look for appliances that have earned the Energy Star.  These can cut your bills down by $450 a year.

  Plan meals ahead and bake more than one at a time.

  Cook with lids on your pots to conserve energy used when cooking.

  Use cooper-bottomed pots and pans that use heat more efficiently when cooking on the stove.

  Turn off ovens and burners when the food is almost ready, and let the existing heat finish cooking your food.

  Use tight fitting covers on pots and pans to shorten cooking time.

  Match your pot size to the size of the burner.

  Use the microwave or toaster oven to heat up smaller items and leftovers.

  Close the refrigerator door completely.  It is one of the most used appliances, as it runs 24 hours a day.

  Replace worn out seals on your refrigerator and freezer.

  Set your refrigerator at 36 to 39 degrees and your freezer at 0 to 5 degrees.

  Defrost frozen food in the fridge before cooking.

  Keep the freezer full.  The fuller the freezer, the less cold air you lose when you open the door.

  Unplug a second refrigerator outside in the hot garage.

  Air dry dishes instead of heat dry.

  Make sure your dryer’s outside vent is clear and clean the lint filter after every load.

  Avoid over drying your clothes.

  When doing several loads of laundry, dry each load of clothes immediately after the other one to reduce heat loss.

  Use the self clean cycle of your oven right after you finish baking to give it a head start on heating up.

  Read appliance manuals for information on how to take care of them and possible energy saving tips.

  Use power strips for home electronics and turn off the power strips when equipment is not in use.

  Unplug battery chargers when the battery is fully charged or it’s not being used.

Without a doubt, attempting to cool down your home and yourself throughout the summer months will increase your bills.  Using these cost effective tips will ensure you stay as comfortable as possible by cutting back on energy use elsewhere throughout your home and utilizing the essential energy efficiently.