Beat the Heat without Breaking the Bank

Summer has arrived, which means sunshine, barbecues, and longer days are in the forecast. But with your kids home from school and the temperatures rising, your energy bills can skyrocket in a hurry.

While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to completely avoid increases in your energy usage during the summer months, you can take steps to reduce your overall consumption and prevent sticker shock when those summer electricity bills arrive.

Turn off Electronics

We all know better than to leave the lights on when we’re not using them, but do you turn off or unplug the electronics you’re not using? Televisions, stereos, and video game consoles can eat up more energy than you think when not in use.

The solution? Invest in a few power strips and plug in related devices into each one. This way, you can easily turn these gadgets off when they’re not being used.

Use the Cold Wash Setting

The amount of energy needed to heat water for use in your home will add up over time. We recommend using the cold wash setting on your washing machine. Not only will this reduce the amount of energy needed per load of laundry, but it helps to preserve the color of your clothing.

Minimize Hot Appliance Usage

On hot days, the excess heat generated by heavy appliances makes your air conditioner work even harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Whenever possible, try to avoid using dryer, dishwasher, or oven before 6pm. To bypass the added heat completely, swap up your routine by grilling outside instead of cooking indoors and air-dry clothing and dishes.

Close Blinds During the Day

One of the best ways to keep heat out of your home is to simply not let it in! It can be tempting to leave the blinds open to enjoy the natural sunlight, but this move is better saved for the cold winter months when you want to warm your home. As an added heat-blocking measure, we recommend investing in some heavy-duty blackout curtains for the windows of your home that receive the most direct sunlight.

Check Your Filters

When was the last time you replaced the air filter in your home? If it’s been more than 3 months, it’s definitely been too long! Replace your air filters every month (or as often as your HVAC system recommends) to ensure your air conditioner can operate at peak efficiency.

While you can’t completely avoid spending more money on energy in the summertime, you can cut back on your consumption to keep your bills in check. We hope you find these cost-saving tips helpful this season!