Summer has officially arrived and with it some smoldering hot weather! That means your utility bills are likely rising with the temperature. Here are a few tips to help you save money on your utility bills while keeping your cool!
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Don’t Use Your Oven
The amount of heat an oven puts into your home makes your air conditioning work even harder than it already is in this scorching heat. Instead of using your oven, consider some cold food options like salads, sandwiches or some of these other ideas on our Pinterest board. Another plus to this is that many of these foods tend to be lighter and healthier. That's a win/win situation!
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Use a Programmable Thermostat
You can save up to 10% a year on your air and heat bill by using a programmable thermostat. It’s a good idea to adjust your thermostat to use less energy when you’re not home or while you’re sleeping.
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Vampire Power
Have you heard of vampire power? This is when electronics are turned off but are still plugged in and use energy. Think of items that shine a light even while they’re not in use or chargers that you leave plugged in. You don’t need to unplug these items, but if you use a power strip or a light switch that controls the power in the outlets, you can turn the power off when you’re not using the items and save money on your electricity bill.
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Be Reasonable With the Air Conditioning
You just finished some yard work and you’re burning up. It’s tempting to turn your air conditioning down to cool off, but that decision is pricey. It’s expensive to cool down your house, so instead get an ice cold glass of water and take a quick cold shower to cool down. It’s cheaper, faster and more refreshing.
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Close the Vents and Doors
If you’re spending your time in one section of your home, close the vents and doors in the other parts of the house. There’s no need to keep those areas cooled if no one is using them and your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard.
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Wash on Full and Make It Cold
When you throw a load in your washing machine or use your dishwasher, make the most of it. When you use them on full, you get the most out of them so instead of doing several small loads, fill it up. A few other tips, using cold water uses less energy and avoid the dryer by hanging your clothes to dry.
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Turn Off the Lights
Summer means the days are longer and we get lots of sunlight. Instead of turning on the lights during the day, open the windows and enjoy the natural light.
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Take a Break From Electronics
Electronics are so intertwined in our lives that we don’t always think about the fun things we can do void of them. Find some hobbies that don’t involve electronics like inviting friends over to play board games, learning a new instrument, teaching your old dog new tricks or getting your friends together to play a sport.
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Check Your AC Unit
Some air conditioning units require more maintenance than others. Make sure you’re keeping up with changing air filters and cleanings to keep it running efficiently.
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Grow Some Shade
Is your house missing natural shade? While it doesn’t help you right away, consider planting some trees so that your house has a natural defense against the heat. Being in the shade reduces the amount of energy needed to keep your house cool.
Do you know of other ways to save while keeping your house cool in the heat? Let us know in the comments below! We want to hear from you.