Summer Savings

It’s that time of year again… school’s out for summer!

Now that the kids are home for the next few months, you might see your energy bill increase especially on those really hot days when you need to be inside running the AC. No one likes to pay more on their energy bill, so I’m here to share some tips with you so you can keep cool, enjoy the family being together again and save money.

Leaving town? I’ll share some tips for the vacationers out there, too, so you can come home to a lower utility bill.

Don't you love the smell of air dried clothes in summer? Photo Source: Mother Earth News

Staying home?

• Set your thermostat as high as possible, while maintaining comfort. We suggest 78 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re in your home. Leaving to see a movie or head to the pool? Turn off the AC completely or put it well above 78 degrees. You may be too warm for comfort when you initially come home, but the AC will kick in quickly and you won’t be unnecessarily running an energy-intensive machine. A programmable thermostat will make it easier to set your temperatures throughout the year.
• Does it cool off at night where you live? If it does, turn off your AC completely and open the windows. You’ll get a fresh breeze and you won’t be paying anything for your cooling system while you sleep!
• Turn off fans when you leave a room. Fans cool the air right in front of it, but if you’re not there to enjoy the breeze, the energy used to run the fan is wasted.
• Use the oven as little as possible on hot days. Grill or use the stovetop.
• Use other large appliances like washers, dryers and dishwashers only when full. Also, make sure to run them at night when your home is already a little cooler. If you have the capacity, dry your clothes outside so you don’t have to use the clothes dryer at all!
• Decrease the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit; you likely won’t use as much hot water in the summer as it is and this will allow you to save that energy.
• Use weatherstripping or caulk around your windows and doors; this will prevent warm air coming in and cold air going out.
• Keep blinds and curtains closed during the day. This will help your cooling system be more efficient.

Leaving town?

• Turn off all lights, inside and out. If you feel safer leaving a light on, make sure it’s on a timer so it’s only on when necessary, or from dusk till dawn.
• Close blinds and curtains.
• Unplug all electronics and any small appliances like microwaves, toasters, hairdryers, etc.
• Turn off your water heater if possible. If you can’t turn it off completely, turn it down to the lowest possible setting.
• Turn off your cooling system. Some programmable thermostats have vacation settings that will allow you to control the temperature of your home while you’re away.
• Turn off all fans.

Unplug when you leave for more savings! Photo Source: Reglobe

• Clear all food out of the refrigerator, clean it and unplug it. Fridges use an immense amount of energy and this can be a good time to save a little money on the energy it uses and get it sparkling again!

 How are you saving energy this summer?