How To Save Energy In The Summer

Because we love earth, yes?

During the summer months when the weather is super warm and you’re trying to keep cool, have you thought about ways to keep not only yourself cool but the energy within your home cool as well? It’s actually a bit easier than you think and can help you save money in the long run too. What are these tips you ask? I’m sharing a few below! 

Use Your Windows

If you live in an area where the weather tends to be cooler at night, my advice would be to turn your cooling system and open your windows while you sleep. It’s comforting to hear the crickets or birds chirping when you wake up in the morning too. Another idea is to shut the windows and blinds when you wake up to help capture the cool air.

Purchase a Box Stand

If you’re ok with spending a small amount of money to help reduce your energy costs, purchase a ceiling fan or a box fan to help you stay cool. Using the fans to help cool your home means that you can raise your thermostat setting about 4 degrees without reducing your comfort ( that’s key ! ) Also, make sure to turn off the fans when you are not in the room because it’s there for you to cool down, not the room. 

image: Athens Commercial Laundromat

Wash Clothes In Cold Water

If you have a washing machine in your home, make sure that you use a cold setting to get them clean. If you don’t have a washing machine, a local laundromat should be able to help you as well. In the Atlanta area, a laundromat called Athens Commercial Laundromat is your one stop shop! They not only offer you plenty of washing machines and dryers to get your laundry clean but if you are too busy to do it yourself, they have a wash, dry and fold service! You can drop off your laundry and have it ready to pick up in just a few hours ( they are open until 7pm, 7 days a week ). Their typical turnaround time is less then 24 hours for an average load of laundry. All you need to do clean, fold and neatly package for you to pick up.

Keep Your Fridge Cool

In the summer, you want to keep not only your home cool but your food cool as well. When it comes to keeping that fresh squeezed lemonade or your homemade popsicles cold, there are a few tips to help keep your energy bill low and maintaining your fridge properly. Set your thermostat between 35 and 38 degrees and your freezer between 0 and 5. Make sure that the door seals and the vacuum coils are ok.

Make Sure Your Cooling System is Running Efficiently

In order to keep everything running smoothly, you’ll want to make sure that you have a regular maintenance for your equipment scheduled. Also, avoid putting lamps or a TV set near your air conditioning thermostat. They can sense heat from those specific appliances which can cause your air conditioner to run longer and isn’t necessary. If you vacuum, make sure that you are doing it regularly to help remove any dust build up and ensure that your furniture or other objects are not blocking the airflow. 

UnPlug

Summer can be extremely busy with activities and more but make sure that you’re taking time to turn off and unplug all those electronics too if you aren’t using them. This includes your charger, TV, computers and other small electronics too. According to the Department of Energy, this can help you save about $100 a year which may seem small but every little bit helps! Now that you’ve unplugged, take time to enjoy the warm weather, the pool with your kids or exploring a new area together as a family without having to worry about e-mails or social media blowing up your phone. 

Summer is really a great time to make memories, but stress can easily creep up. These tips will hopefully help you save some energy in the summer so you can focus more on making memories rather than worrying about your bills. No matter what you have planned during these three months, take the time to slow down, unplug, do what you can to keep your home cool, your laundry looking as best as you can and ask for help if you need it.

Are there any other tips to help save energy on your home that I’ve missed? Share in the comments below!