Energy Saving Summer Tips; Room by Room
Hello Summer! The warmer temperatures have arrived, bringing with it the potential for increased energy costs. Now is the perfect time to prepare your home by making simple, energy-efficient changes. The Wire is providing you energy saving ideas room by room in your home!
The Laundry Room
Always wait for a full load to run the wash.
Clean the lint trap between loads—this improves air circulation and increases the efficiency of the dryer.
Air dry clothes outside during warmer months or on an inside drying rack to save energy from using a dryer.
Energy-Efficiency Settings:Make sure your appliances are set to the most energy-efficient options.
Heating water uses electricity. By washing your clothes in cold water only, you’ll save on heating costs.
Program a faster spin speed to reduce the amount of drying.
Use the lowest water setting to save more than 1,200 gallons of water per year.
The Bedroom
Dial your thermostat up while you sleep. By properly adjusting your home’s temperature at night, and again during the day when you’re out of the house.
Make sure to switch off personal electronics before going to sleep. Consider getting a smart power strip, which shuts off electronics that are no longer in use, to avoid high standby power costs.
Upgrade your bedroom lighting to ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs, which use 70-90% less energy than standard bulbs.
The Kitchen
Cook Outdoors! Trying to cook in a hot, steamy kitchen can be unbearable, especially when it’s hot and steamy outside as well. Kitchens are full of heat-producing appliances: ovens and stoves can raise your kitchen’s temperature up to 10º. To save yourself the sweat (and the higher utility bills), try using the microwave whenever possible since it uses just one-third the energy that an oven does and produces only a fraction of the heat. Another great way to take the heat out of the kitchen is to cook outdoors.
Stop hand washing your dishes. Did you know that your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand? You can use nearly 5,000 more gallons of water a year if you hand wash your dishes, as opposed to using an Energy Star® qualified dishwasher*. Let dishes air dry to save even more energy.
Avoid peak energy times.To save money on your energy bills and to prevent electricity outages, avoid running appliances during peak hours.
The Bathroom
Take shorter showers and save on your hot water use.
Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.
Install low-flow faucets and showerheads. Low-flow fixtures cost about $10-$20 a piece and achieve water savings of 25-60 percent.
The Exterior
Use windows to gain cool air. This is where window upgrades can save you money in the long run. On milder days and nights, opt to shut off your air conditioner and crack open the windows. You’ll also appreciate the breath of fresh air!
Make sure your cooling system is running efficiently. This means it is time for an AC tune-up, and to check the window seals on your pane-based air conditioner units.
New exterior doors often fit and insulate better than older types. If you have older doors in your home, replacing them might be a good investment, resulting in lower cooling costs.
There are many ways to conserve energy without sacrificing too much comfort or convenience. It not only saves money, it also saves valuable resources. Use these tips to help increase your home’s energy efficiency and save energy costs in almost every room!
