A Practical Guide to Summer Energy Savings at Home
Summer brings sunshine, longer days, and a busy home. With kids out of school and extra activities, energy use can climb fast. The good news? Comfort and control can still coexist.
Here’s how to keep your home cool, efficient, and budget-friendly even with a busy house.
Set It and Forget It
It’s easy to want to keep the thermostat low all day, but minor changes can make a big difference.
Set your thermostat to 78°F/ 25°C when you’re home.
Raise it a few degrees at night or when rooms are empty.
Use ceiling fans to feel cooler without lowering the temperature.
Remember: Fans cool people, not rooms. Turn off when leaving.
Block the Heat Before It Gets In
Sun streaming in makes your home hotter fast.
Close blinds or curtains during the hottest parts of the day
Use blackout curtains in sun-facing rooms.
Rethink How You Cook
Ovens and stoves heat up the kitchen fast.
Grill outside or use smaller appliances like air fryers or microwaves
Cook earlier in the day when it’s cooler.
Batch meals to avoid reheating multiple times
Be Smarter About Laundry
Summer means more laundry than usual.
Wash in cold water whenever possible.
Run full loads only
Dry clothes in the evening or air-dry when you can
Tame the “Always-On” Energy Drain
More people at home means more screens, chargers, and devices running all day.
Unplug devices or use power strips to shut multiple items off at once
Enable sleep mode on TVs, laptops, and gaming systems.
Encourage screen breaks (good for energy and sanity)
Give Your AC a Fighting Chance
Your AC works harder than ever in summer—help it out.
Change air filters regularly.
Keep vents clear of furniture and clutter.
Schedule a quick maintenance check if it’s been a while
Watch the Hot Water Use
Showers, dishes, and laundry all use more hot water.
Take slightly shorter showers (even 2–3 minutes helps)
Fix any drips or leaks quickly.
Lower your water heater temperature if it’s set too high.
Make It a Household Effort
This is the one that actually moves the needle.
Get everyone involved by setting simple “house rules” for energy use.
Turn it into a friendly challenge (who remembers to turn things off?)
Celebrate small wins together.
