This summer, we’re featuring eight energy-efficient ways to help you stay cool, which may help you save money on your bill!
Weather-proof!
You may be able to spend less on cooling if you can stop heat from entering your home in the first place. Weather-stripping your windows is one measure we talk about a lot, but that’s because it’s good advice.
Get creative with the fridge.
Freeze berries and fruit for a fresh and healthy snack. You can also pop your skin care products in the fridge for a few hours so they’re refreshingly cool when you’re ready to use them.
Is your ceiling fan spinning the correct way for the season?
Remember that it’s counterclockwise for the summer. This pushes air downward to cool the room.
Hydrate smart.
Limit alcohol consumption, as it can DE-hydrate you. The more you sweat, the cooler you’ll feel, so stay hydrated by drinking water to keep the effect going.
Watch the clock.
The sun is hottest between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., so keeping your blinds closed, especially on any north or west-facing windows, can help keep your home cool naturally. Open your windows when it gets cooler in the evening to help beat the heat.
Wet your curtains to make the most out of a breeze coming from outside.
It’s an old trick from the days before AC. Spritz, soak, or leave the bottoms of your curtains in buckets of water. Run a fan at the same time to get air circulating and the water evaporating.
Update your bulbs.
If you have outdated light bulbs, you may be inadvertently heating your home during the summer. LED light bulbs burn cooler than incandescent. To help you stay cool, swap out your incandescent light bulbs for LEDs. Then you can enjoy the energy-efficient lighting, too!
Fine-tune your temp.
Experiment a little and see how high you can set your thermostat while remaining comfortable. It’s tempting to crank the AC, especially after time spent in the heat outdoors, but if you can increase your thermostat by just one degree, it may reduce the running cost of your AC by as much as 10%.
