Your cooling and heating system is one of the biggest energy users in your home. Here are some inexpensive tips on ways to help save some energy and money this summer.
Summer officially starts on June 20th, but you don't have to sweat spending extra money on your utility bill this year. There are easy things you can do at home to save. According to the Department of Energy, cooling and heating accounts for about 48% of the energy used in most homes. [1] Here are tips that can help you save energy and money.
Use Fans. Ceiling fans and table top fans can create a wind chill effect, which can help you feel cool. Remember: fans cool people and not rooms. Turn fans on when you enter the room and you will feel cool without having to lower the temperature of your thermostat. Turn fans off when you leave the room to conserve energy. Bathroom fans and range hoods in the kitchen can also help remove heat and humidity from the air.
Insulation. If your home is not properly insulated you can lose the cool air you pay for to the outside. Simple caulking and weather stripping is an inexpensive way to help keep the cool inside and help save energy.
Window coverings / passive cooling. Close blinds and curtains when you can to help deflect heat away from your windows. Your air conditioner will not have to work as hard to cool your home.
Cook outside. Try not to use appliances, like ovens and ranges, which create extra heat inside. Consider grilling outside for dinner so the air conditioner is not working to overcome the heat you are creating in the kitchen.
Regular maintenance of your cooling system is also important during the summer. A trusted technician can insure your air conditioning is operating at peak performance and spot potential trouble before it becomes a larger expense.
Your friend in comfort and energy savings,
Derek Cole