The weather is warming up; It’s time to break out the grill, call the pool cleaner, and get those garden tools out of the basement. It’s Spring! But spring also means it’s time to look at how you can save the most energy and the most money.
many ways to save
Many people can tolerate cold weather better than hot weather, which means that as the weather gets hotter and hotter, it’s going to be harder and harder to fight the urge to turn on the air conditioner and leave it on for hours. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help keep your home cool without increasing your energy bill.
- Take it easy with the thermostat:
- Set the temperature as high as you can while still being comfortable. The smaller the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your bill will be.
- Keep the house warmer than usual when you’re out and cool when you get home. Set “Away” and “Home” temperatures easily with a programmable thermostat.
- keep in mind: Your home will not cool faster if you set your thermostat to a colder temperature than normal. In fact, this is likely to result in unnecessary expense and undue strain on the cooling system.
- Get the most out of your windows:
- Prevent heat from entering through windows by installing window coverings such as blinds (interior and/or exterior), awnings, highly reflective films, drapes, blinds, insulated panels, and shutters.
- If you live in an area where it cools down at night, turn off the air conditioning and open the windows while you sleep. When you wake up, close the windows and blinds to keep the fresh air in, unless there is still a cool breeze. You can still get some fresh air in the house early in the morning before the sun starts beating down on your house/yard.
- Turn those ceiling fans on:
- By using your ceiling fans in combination with air conditioning, you can actually set your thermostat four degrees higher, but remember that fans cool people, not rooms. If you leave a room, turn off the fan.
- Turn on your bathroom fan when you shower or bath to remove moisture and heat.
- Lower the water temperature:
- Your water heater uses 18 percent of your home’s energy use. Lower the temperature to 120 degrees F.
- Minimize the use of appliances and artificial lighting.:
- Using the oven on hot days will make the house hotter and therefore more difficult to cool. Stick to the stove, microwave, or outdoor grill.
- Minimize the use of a computer or television, the use of the dishwasher, or the use of hot devices such as hair dryers.
- Install efficient lighting that does not release a lot of heat.
- Seal leaks to keep hot air out:
- Seal cracks to prevent heat from entering the house.
- Add weather stripping or caulk to seal leaky doors and windows.