Because energy costs continue to rise, you and your family may be looking for ways to reduce your electricity use. Perhaps you just want to lower your energy-using footprint. Either way, here are a number of useful tips to save energy – and save money – this summer while staying cool indoors.
Sometimes the most obvious tips are simple and cost little. Share tips you use to save energy with us. We’d love to hear from you!
Keep the heat out
Keep window coverings closed. For example, east-facing windows should keep coverings closed in the mornings when the sun is rising. In the evening, west-facing windows should have their window coverings closed to keep the setting sun out. Pay particular attention to south-facing windows, with the sun being particularly strong during the day.
Employ blackout curtains. Cut down on heat getting inside your home from the sun.
Use fans smartly
Make sure ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise in the summer. Air from ceiling fans should be pushing the air downward.
Turn off fans when you are not in the room. Fans cool the people in the room, not the air.
Keep the AC working efficiently
Inspect and replace your AC filter regularly. Clean filters mean air runs through them more easily, requiring the AC to not work as hard.
Cut down on oven use. Don’t heat up the house unnecessarily. Consider baking or roasting on cooler days, but not mid-day. Use an air fryer, toaster oven, indoor electric grill, or outdoor grill to replace the need for an oven.
Close windows. When it’s hot out, don’t leave any windows open. And make an effort to keep the doors closed as much as possible. Remind your kids to shut doors behind them promptly.
Upping the thermostat. If your energy bills are too costly, consider upping your temperature a couple of degrees to lessen the amount of time the AC has to run. Use a programmable thermostat to control temperature when you are away from the home, on vacation, or on cooler days.
Utilize cool days
Open windows. When the temperatures drop, humidity dips, and breezes pick up, take the opportunity to open windows to cool your home with outside air. Remember to close windows if rain is predicted, if you’re going to leave your home, or if family members suffer from allergies.
Naturally cooler parts of the home. Consider moving your office, playroom, or family room to a cooler part of the house. In many homes, during the summer, the basement or lower level of the home is the coolest area, often by several degrees.
Consider long-term changes
High-efficiency air conditioner. When you replace your AC, consider the most efficient unit possible to save you the most energy.
New windows. New double- and triple-pane glass windows can significantly cut down on heat entry into your home in the summer and keep that cool air inside more efficiently.
New insulation. Additional attic insulation can mean that more of your cool air stays inside your home and doesn’t leak up and out of your home.
Plant trees and bushes. Greenery around your home can shade your home and reduce the air temperature around the outside of your home by several degrees. This means your AC will have to work less.
Light colors. Light colored homes reflect more heat in the summer making the interior of the home more comfortable. Consider your options when replacing siding or painting.
For more information about energy efficiency or any other factors you may consider when searching for a new home, contact your LW Reedy real estate agent today.
