Warm weather savings tips

No matter the time of year, energy savings is something that is on everyone’s mind. Whether you own your home, rent or lease, conservation is key to keeping your energy bills manageable.

Here are some tips and ideas now that the warmer weather is here.

• During the day, block the heat from the sun by closing windows, doors and curtains.
• Install ceiling fans. They could help reduce your cooling bills by 40%.
• If you turn your ceiling fan on when using the air conditioner, you can raise your thermostat about 4°F to save on cooling costs with no reduction in comfort.
• During hot summer afternoons, avoid using appliances. Wait until cooler times of the day to do tasks that make your house warmer, like laundry and cooking.
• Keep the coils of your central or window air conditioner free of dust and dirt.
• Clear furniture away from air conditioning ducts.
• Make sure the output of your air conditioner is right for the size of your room or house to ensure optimum efficiency and comfort.
• Change or clean your air conditioning filter monthly during the cooling season to improve efficiency and the life of your air conditioner.
• Look for an air conditioning unit that is ENERGY STAR^® approved.
• Install an attic fan. This can cool your attic by nearly 30 degrees.
• Cook on the grill to keep cooking heat outside the home.
• Install reflective window coatings to reflect heat away from your home.
• Open windows on cool summer days and nights. A good rule of thumb is to open windows when the outside temperature is cooler than the inside of your house.
• Consider air drying clothes on clotheslines or drying racks instead of using your dryer.
• Caulk gaps and cracks around drafty door frames and windows to prevent warm air from entering your home on summer days. Caulk is inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores where they can also teach you how to apply it.