Simple Summer Energy Saving Tips
Consuming an increased level of energy in your home during the summer season is practically unavoidable.
However, watching your family’s utility bill skyrocket and feeling guilty about a giant carbon footprint can be prevented.
Doing your best to save as much energy as possible during the warmest months of the year is not only feasible but quite simple.
Below we’ll illustrate a few proven methods to save energy at home without sacrificing comfort from the sweltering heat.
Turn Off the Lights!
When the weather outside is hotter than normal, you don’t want to add another few degrees to the thermostat.
During daylight hours, it’s best to keep your hands off the light switch and open your blinds for some natural sunlight.
In fact, only approximately 10% of energy is turned into light for incandescent bulbs, while the rest is converted directly into heat.
When you have a few lights turned on in every room, the heat emitting from each individual bulb adds up quickly.
Alternatively, you could overhaul your entire lightning system to produce less heat, but it’s a vast (and possibly expensive) undertaking.
Turning off the lights will directly lower energy consumption and lessen the need to combat the heat with cooling systems, which itself requires energy.
Limit Your Appliance Use
Dishwashers, ovens, and laundry machines all use vast amounts of energy and produce heat.
If you absolutely must use them in full capacity, doing so in the evening will keep the temperature down in your home. Otherwise, try to maximize their efficiency and lower usage time as much as possible.
Large electronic devices such as TVs, computers, and sound systems also contribute to overall energy use. It’s easy and highly recommended to keep these unplugged when they’re sitting idle.
Lastly, try not to use anything that clearly produces heat such as clothing irons, open flames, or hot showers.
Improve Your Cooling System
Air conditioning units become outdated quickly and require maintenance every few months in order to stay top-notch.
Changing your home air filters regularly will increase overall cooling efficiency by maximizing airflow and reducing the power needed to perform.
Air vents should also be cleaned to prevent your brand new filter from becoming clogged with dust and debris almost immediately upon installation.
Adding either ceiling or portable fans to the mix will reduce the strain being put on your HVAC system by providing an artificial cooling effect.
However, you’ll still need to use your air conditioning system for the best results, as fans are short-term isolated solutions.
As you’ve learned here, energy and heat create a vicious cycle that quickly becomes costly.
As more energy is consumed, more heat is released, which must be reduced through the use of more energy.
Fortunately, this pattern can be broken by first becoming aware of your personal energy use and then taking action to limit it.
Ensuring your HVAC system, lights, and appliances are all working to limit their energy use will combine to lower your energy bill and heat levels significantly.
17 Comments
Rebecca @ Boss Single Mama
Great tips for saving money on energy in summer. My AC bill was higher than usual this month because I turned the thermostat down instead of up like I should have. Cooking outside on the grill can also save energy and keep the house cooler.
Joi
I always try to tell my roommates about saving energy but they don’t listen. Amazing post!
Jennifer Van Haitsma
These are great tips! I always forget about unplugging TVs and stuff. Thanks for the reminder.
ravina
Informative
Carletta Shannon
This is a great article. Thank you for all the great tips and reminders!
Cristina
These are very sensible tips that should be followed by everyone. Not only will you save money but you will also help the planet.
Alanda
I stay unplugging things! LOL Great tips!
Miranda
The big appliances are my big downfall. I need to be more mindful, especially as we are headed into the hotter months.
Kelly Marie
I had no idea lightbulbs put off so much heat compared to light! Thanks for sharing.
Angelika Arroyo
Great tips! We use a solar energy fan that in the attic that helps keep the hot air from being trapped.
Karie
Great tips. We also joined our city’s time of use plan which gives us a discount to use our high cost items at certainties of the day. It saves us about $20 a month.
Beth Schoen
Love it! A simple but great little post to remind some, educate others about saving electricity and money! Any tips on not having to repeat a hundred times a day, “turn off your bedroom/bathroom light” to my three boys. Beth, wisemommies.com
Leeandra
Great tips! I’m trying to limit my appliance use too!
Felicia Tucker
These are great tips, especially with us being in our homes for most of the day. Using the big items in the evening is a great tip. Thanks for sharing!
Kathleen Wonders
Thanks for sharing these tips! Really helpful especially now that most of us are working from home. Another I’d recommend is to wear thin clothing or shorts so you don’t feel too warm. Also, open the windows instead of turning up the AC to lower room temperature. 😀
Katrina Crandall
Thank you for the tips! We definitely follow these tips, even when I’d prefer to have more light in the house or run the dishwasher during the day! Saving energy is so important!
Miss mill mag
GREAT