During the summer, it could be possible to save on energy costs at home for a number of reasons. The days are longer, so you don’t need to have the lights on. If it’s possible for you to hang your laundry outside, you can do that instead of using a clothes dryer. You don’t need to heat your home, which could save energy too. But there are also reasons you might use more energy, such as having your air conditioning running all the time. Fortunately, there are ways you can make sure you’re not using too much energy in the summer, saving yourself money, and saving the planet.
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Turn Up the Thermostat
Having cold air blasting through your home feels like a huge relief after being outside, where it’s likely much hotter. But, although you want it cooler, it doesn’t have to be as cold as you can possibly get it. If there’s a smaller difference between the temperature outside and the temperature inside, you could save more money on your energy bills. When you’re out of the house, you could set the temperature even higher to save a little more. A smart thermostat can be great for this, ensuring you can turn the temperature up and down easily, even when you’re not at home.
Make Sure Your AC Is Efficient
Speaking of air conditioning, a less efficient AC unit is going to use up more energy. It’s smart to have your air conditioning or HVAC system serviced before summer arrives so that you’re prepared for when it starts to get hotter. Keep an emergency AC repair service on hand too so that you can quickly get repairs made when necessary. You can do some simple things yourself to keep your AC running efficiently. Replacing or cleaning the filter is a must for an efficient AC unit.
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Keep Out the Sun
As things heat up outside during the day, the sun coming into your home can start to make it hotter inside too. Blocking out the sun won’t completely keep the heat out but it will help to reduce the heat. By hanging curtains or blinds, you can draw them during the day to try and keep out some of the heat. Since you probably don’t want to do this all day, do it during the hottest part of the day instead, usually between about noon and 4 pm.
Take Cooler Showers
Your water heater also uses up a significant amount of energy. You probably don’t want to take really hot showers during the summer, so turning down the temperature on your water heater can be beneficial in a couple of ways. Using the warm setting will make your showers more comfortable and you’ll still have water hot enough for various tasks, such as washing dishes. Your water heater can account for almost 20% of your energy bill, so turning down the temperature is worth it.
Save energy during the summer by turning up the temperature of your thermostat and turning down the temperature of your water.
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