Learn How to Save Even When It’s Hot Outside in 15 Steps
Ah, summer. The kids are home from school, the sun is shining, and the pool is calling. All you need now to really enjoy the next few months is a lower electricity bill! Unfortunately, everything that comes with creating a fantastic summer can easily cause you to increase your energy usage and send your energy budget soaring.

Thankfully, you can use these tips to control your usage while still participating in everything you love about summer!

1) Set the thermostat at 75-78º F when you’re at home.

Yes, you might think this is too warm, but compared to external temperatures well into the 90’s, this setting will still feel comfortable, and it won’t drive up your cooling costs like a setting of 70-72º F.

2) Set the thermostat to 85º F when you’re away from home for more than two hours.

That’s right – unless you have small pets who are super-sensitive to heat, you do not need to cool your house during the day when you aren’t there. We’re not saying that you should adjust your air conditioner if you’re just heading out for a few short errands or for lunch, as dramatic shifts to your HVAC system on a regular basis aren’t good for its long-term health.

3) Use ceiling fans and ensure they’re pointing circulating air downward.

This tip goes hand-in-hand with Tip #1. If you have ceiling fans in good working condition, flip the switch so they pushpoint air downward and into the center of the room. This keeps your cooled air flowing consistently without needing to crank the thermostat down to an energy-sucking temperature.

4) Install a programmable thermostat.

And this tip works in conjunction with Tip #2. With a decent programmable thermostat, you can tell your HVAC unit when to cool down and heat up based upon your schedule. Specifically, if you know you’re heading out for a few hours, you can program it to start cooling back down 15-20 minutes before you know you’ll return home. And no, you don’t need a fancy one that connects to the Internet of Things with an app to make use of this tip.

5) Replace air filters as needed.

As simple as this tip might sound, people forget it on a regular basis. The dirtier the filter, the harder your HVAC system has to work to cool the air in your home, and the harder it works, the higher your energy usage and electricity bill. Besides, if you’ve ever changed a really old filter and seen how dirty it can be, you’ll realize how important it is to ensure the smooth flow of air in your home. How frequently you change them depends upon the make and model of both your HVAC system and the recommended air filter for the unit, so we suggest checking the owner’s manual of your system.

6) Get a checkup for your HVAC system.

Let’s take Tip #5 a step further. You should really call your preferred HVAC repair company to schedule a checkup for your entire system – unit, ducts, attic insulation, and everything in between. A healthy HVAC system is the best way to ensure that you’re using energy effectively, as a faulty system will use more energy than you need to cool the house. More importantly, you don’t want your HVAC system to ail in the middle of the summer when you need it most.

7) Close the blinds and shutters during the day.

The reason you run your air conditioner to cool the air in your home is because the air gets hot in the summertime. Hence, if you close the blinds and shutters that directly face where the sunshine enters your home (typically the southern-most windows), you are reducing how much of that sun you allow to further heat your home.

8) Check your weatherstripping around windows and doors.

Coinciding with Tip #7, the greater the amount of warm air from the outside that enters your home, the warmer it will be, which only causes your air conditioner to run extra-hard to cool down the air in your home. Examine closely the rubber and silicone seals that surround your doors and windows for any cracks, breaks, or related damage. If there is any damage, you should replace it as promptly as possible since that’s where the cool air escapes and warm air enters. This tip alone can improve the overall efficiency of your HVAC system, which is the primary culprit of a high electricity bill in summer.

9) Only run major appliances after 6pm.

The same logic applies with this tip. When you operate heavy appliances like your oven, washer, and dryer during the hottest parts of the day, you’re dramatically increasing the heat load in your home. Not only will this cause you to feel hotter (because, you know, the house is hotter), but it causes your air conditioner to work extra-hard to cool your home. By waiting until the day is cooler, you’re reducing wear-and-tear on your air conditioner and also the amount of energy used to cool your home.

10) Air-dry your clothes outside.

Go old-school with this tip! By making practical use of the warm summer weather, you’re cutting out one of those heavy-usage appliances entirely.

11) Use energy-efficient cooking alternatives when possible.

Now, we’re not suggesting that you cook your pork loin in the microwave, but we are recommending that you look for ways to reduce using your stovetop and oven when it’s hottest outside. In fact, we’re big fans of using devices like slow cookers, rice cookers, and microwaves throughout the year, as they are consistently more energy efficient than traditional cooking methods.

12) Take shorter (and colder) showers.

What could be better than a cool shower on the hottest of days? With this tip, you save energy by not needing to heat all the hot water you use in your typical shower, and you cool down your body so that you don’t run the air conditioner as much.

13) Set your water heater at 120º F.

Let’s take Tip #12 a step further! By turning down the temperature a few degrees, you’re telling your water heater to use less energy to heat your water. And besides, it’s the summer – you don’t need water that hot when you’re showering, and that setting is still plenty hot enough to wash your dishes safely and effectively.

14) Use LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs or CFLs.

This might appear to be a tiny issue, but as LED technology continues to improve leaps-and-bounds over its competitors, your long-term savings here are relevant. Not only do LED light bulbs last longer, but they also have less heat waste. This means your light bulbs contribute far less wasted heat to your home, and you won’t have to replace them nearly as often as other forms of bulb technology.

15) Turn off appliances, electronics, and lights not in use.

Finally, this old chestnut appears on most lists of this nature, but it remains a tried-and-true recommendation. It’s especially pertinent during summer because your kids are at home using electricity in ways you don’t when they’re in school. Furthermore, we contend that this tip is the easiest way to introduce your kids to an energy efficient lifestyle, as you can create a system of rewards that encourage them to remember to turn off their bedroom lights and games when they’re finished using them.

Summer should be a fun and exciting season for the entire family, and it starts with finding ways to use less energy around the home so that you can lower your electricity bill. In fact, you can even incentivize the entire family to use less by suggesting that everyone can enjoy a fun treat at the end of the summer with the money the family saves!

We hope these tips help you!