These 5 tips to save energy during the summer can help homeowners in New England install, plug in, and crank up the AC to escape the unfamiliar wave of heat to the region. But before you double your electric bill, take a moment to explore other options that would naturally decrease the temperature of your home and get you back to more a nature-filled life. Saving energy doesn’t always mean spending money and buying the latest energy efficient technologies out there. Sometimes, you can save money, the environment, and remind your family the importance of fresh air all at the same time!
Turn Up the Thermostat
Just turning the temperature up on your thermostat a couple degrees can save 1-3 percent per degree above 72 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s no reason to cool an empty house all day while you’re at work or running errands, so turn the temperature up a few notches before running out the door in the morning. Even when you’re home, if you run a ceiling fan and keep the AC a little higher you’ll reduce your electricity consumption. Of course, in the evenings you may not need the AC at all and instead can rely on cool summer nights and window fans to keep the heat away.
Use a Fan
Ceiling, window, attic, and free standing fans all help to circulate the air in your home and keep each room cooler. It also helps to open a window on one side of your house upstairs and another on the other side of your house downstairs to create a cross breeze. By keeping air moving through your home you can let the hot air out upstairs and let fresh air in downstairs.
Insulate Your Windows and Doors
Most home improvement stores sell cephalon wrap to seal any drafty windows in the summer to trap the cool air in and keep the warm air out. Also use this time to check the insulation strips for your doors and replace them if necessary.
Close the Shades!
During the day, close the shades and blind in your windows to prevent the sun from beating in all day. The sun greatly heats up your home, but by keeping the light out you can help keep the temperature down thus reducing your need for AC. Darker shades keep the most heat out, but unfortunately most of the light too; using blinds and leaving them slightly open can reflect some of the sunlight onto your ceiling, allowing the light inside with significantly less heat.
Save Energy and Reconnect with Nature
Take advantage of the nice weather while it’s here and go outside! If you are lucky enough to not work in the summer months, go to the beach, for a hike, or to an amusement park and give your AC a break for a few hours. When you exercise, forget the treadmill and weights and take your workout outside, the less heat you produce indoors, the cooler your home will be. Also, try hand-washing your dishes instead of running the dishwasher to reduce electricity and heat generation from the appliance. Along the same lines, dry your clothes on a clothesline and grill outside instead of using your stove or oven!
By implementing some of the recommendations listed here, not only would you reduce and save energy consumption on your electric bill, but you may also find yourself and your family reconnecting with nature.