As the temperature rises, so do energy costs. Fortunately, it’s not difficult to reduce summer energy costs with a few inexpensive and simple tricks.
Simple Ways to Reduce Summer Energy Costs
The most obvious reason your energy costs increase in the summer is air conditioning.
Adjusting your thermostat may be the most obvious measure to help you keep your power bill manageable, but it’s far from the only thing you can do.
Improve Insulation
You’re paying to keep your home cool.
Isn’t it smart, then, to make sure you get the most out of that expenditure?
Check your home’s insulation to make sure it’s in great shape, and don’t forget the attic.
Seal your windows and doors with weatherstripping or other products specifically made for energy insulation. You can even get window film that blocks UV rays and helps keep your home cool.
In a pinch, you can stuff towels under your exterior doors to help keep the cool air in and the hot air out.
Heavy or blackout curtains on your windows make a difference, too. By preventing sunlight from heating up your house, your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to keep things cool and comfortable inside.
Use Natural Air Circulation When Possible
If you live in an area where nights are cool, even when days are scorching, take advantage of that.
Turn off your climate control system, open the windows, and let the cool air flow naturally through your home.
In the morning when the sun comes up, close your windows and curtains so that your air conditioner doesn’t have to kick in until much later in the day.
Fans are great for keeping people cool, but remember:
Airflow from a fan cools a person, not a room. The temperature in your environment doesn’t actually change, though the moving air cools your body by carrying away excess heat.
Turn fans off when you leave a room to avoid wasting energy.
Air Dry Laundry and Dishes
Dryers and dishwashers use energy and create more heat in your home.
Rather than running your clothes through the dryer, hang them on a line to let them air dry. This can be done inside or outside, depending on your climate and environment.
If your dishwasher has an optional drying cycle, turn it off. Dishwasher drying cycles use heat to evaporate water, and you’ve already got plenty of heat to deal with. Allow your dishes to drip dry, and you’ll save energy.
Use Cold Water
When you wash your laundry, brush your teeth, wash your hands, or otherwise use water, try to use cold water whenever possible.
The less effort your hot water heater needs to expend, the lower your energy bill.
It might also be prudent to lower your hot water setting by a couple of degrees.
Don’t Create Extra Heat
As much as possible, cook outside on a grill or use lower energy appliances to prepare food during the summer months.
Ovens create a lot of extra heat in your home, which means they’re doing more than just cooking your food – they’re making your AC work harder, too.
Other appliances create extra heat, too:
Hair appliances like straighteners and blow dryers, incandescent lights, and even televisions and stereo systems produce excess heat that your climate control system must dissipate.
Keep electrical appliances away from your thermostat, because when they heat the air in their immediate area, they trigger your air conditioning.
Even hot showers warm up the air in your home, so try taking a warm shower instead.
Be sure to unplug appliances when you’re not using them, too:
Just being plugged into an outlet draws a certain amount of electricity, so little things like phone chargers and coffee machines add to your energy bill.
Creating an Energy Efficient Home
These are all little things you can do to save in energy costs. If you’re really committed, you can take larger steps to create a more energy efficient home.
From your construction to your landscaping, energy efficiency can be a priority.
It saves your pocket, and it’s good for the environment, too.
