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PrintEasy Home Energy Efficiency
Cool tips for summer
With warm weather and air conditioning season approaching, now is a good time to look for ways to save energy while keeping your house or apartment comfortable.
Improvements such as solar panels, new insulation, and double-paned windows conserve energy, but installing them is a big, expensive project. Instead, here are some simple, low-cost ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency.
Set the thermostat
Reduce the amount of energy you personally use. Keep the air conditioner set at 78 degrees in the summer—a comfortable temperature for most people. Cooling and heating systems need annual maintenance to run at their peak, so be sure to replace the filters in your air conditioners and furnace at least once a year.
Keep cool
In hot weather, avoid letting midday heat in to your home by closing windows and exterior doors, and pulling shades. You can install solar-control film on windows that receive direct summer sun. Try to use the microwave for cooking, rather than the stove or oven. Avoid using the washer and dryer during the heat of the day; they’ll warm up your home, too. Combine ceiling or portable fans with air conditioning, if you have it, to cool yourself without having to crank up the AC. For dryer climates, evaporative coolers are less expensive to run than air conditioners.
Fix air leaks
Leaks are common around baseboards, electric outlets, switch plates, window frames, old weather stripping, and wall- or window-mounted air-conditioning units. Caulk windows and seal gaps under doors and around room air-conditioning units.
Manage your appliances
Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. In warm weather, you can skip the dryer and hang clothes outside or on an indoor drying rack. If they seem too wrinkled afterwards, place damp or almost-dry clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes on a low heat setting. If your freezer falls below half-full, add gallon jugs of water; when frozen, they keep things colder and reduce the refrigerator’s electricity use. Unplug computers, TVs, and appliances such as the toaster and coffee maker when not in use, or plug multiple appliances into a power strip that can be easily turned on and off.
Mind the water heater
Whether you have a gas or electric water heater, keeping the temperature setting at 120 degrees can save 3 to 5 percent in energy costs. Also make sure you have an approved water heater insulation blanket (unless your water heater’s manufacturer indicates otherwise).
