Stay Cool While Saving Energy

Monday June 24, 2024

Take time to incorporate these strategies to help you save energy during the summer when the weather is warm and you are trying to keep your home cool.

Some of the tips below are free and can be used on a daily basis to increase your savings; others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the summer.

Get a bright idea
Ditch those ancient incandescent light bulbs, which give off 90 percent of their energy as heat. Instead opt for cooler, more efficient alternatives like CFLs or LEDs.

Give your HVAC some TLC
Change your filter regularly to ensure efficient operation and extend the life of your system.

Put a plug in it
Address leaks and gaps in ductwork and leaks in your home structure.

Get with the program
Here’s another way to lower your energy bills: Use a programmable thermostat that adjusts your air conditioner’s setting automatically. This allows you to stop cooling things down so much when nobody’s home for long stretches of time, or at night when it’s cooler outside. You can program the thermostat to increase the comfort level in your home shortly before you wake up or return home from work.

Put a spin on it
Using ceiling fans in occupied rooms can help you raise thermostat temperatures by 4 degrees Fahrenheit without a reduction in comfort, giving your air conditioner a break. Turn off fans when you leave or install sensors to ensure savings.
 
Have it made in the shade
Some energy saving tips won't cost you any money - like pulling window treatments to block the sun’s rays during the hottest times of the day to prevent your air conditioner – and you - from feeling the heat.

Vent your problems
Properly using natural ventilation – opening windows and doors in the morning and evening when it is cool, then closing them before temperatures rise – can really take a load off your cooling needs. 

Take a cold shower
Cooler, shorter showers save energy and reduce uncomfortable humidity levels in your home. To ensure savings, turn down your water heater to the warm setting – 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Get out of the kitchen
At least during the hottest times of the day. Cook in the morning instead, when temperatures are cooler, or opt for microwaves or outdoor grilling for food prep.

Fill up first
Don’t run dishwashers, clothes washers, or dryers until they are fill, preferably at night to reduce heat and humidity released into your home. Opt for air-drying as often as possible.

 
High energy bills have you feeling a little wilted...
Chapple Electric has the energy savings options you need to perk up your life.

Contact us to schedule an energy audit today!