Top 13 Ways to Conserve Energy in Your Home During the Summer
Being energy-efficient helps you to save money while helping your local community, county, and the rest of the world. There are countless advantages to using energy sparingly. In this post, we will discuss some of the benefits that are associated with being more energy-efficient. We have also created an infographic that highlights 13 useful tips to conserve energy during the summer.
Reasons To Conserve Energy
Saving Money
In order to save money, you can buy energy-saving appliances, make energy-efficient improvements at home, and make a conscious effort to save energy every day. You will be surprised at how much money you will save just by making an effort.
Improvements To A Country’s Economy
Just as reduced energy use in the home helps to save money, it also helps governments and businesses improve the economy too, but on a much bigger scale.
Enhanced Quality Of Life
Being energy efficient improves the quality of life in the home and for all of the members of a household.
Improved National Security
When oil is used sparingly for the armed forces, it means that the country does not have to rely on other nations for fuel. There will be more money available for defense programs. With more money at their disposal, the military can switch to hybrid and electric vehicles, energy-efficient generators, and convert to other energy-saving procedures as well. Fewer convoys will be necessary then, to deliver fuel to the troops, and since these convoys are frequently targeted by the enemy, it also means that the numbers of casualties will be reduced significantly too.
Beneficial To The Environment
Pollution is reduced when we conserve energy and use less of our country’s valuable natural resources. The earth’s resources would last longer, and with big corporations making investments to become more energy-efficient, enormous amounts of greenhouse gases would be eliminated each year.
Although energy saving is a good idea all through the year, it is during the hot summer months when people find it hard to conserve energy.
How You Can Conserve Energy At Home During The Summer
Maintain Your Cooling System
Have your cooling system serviced and maintained on a regular basis. Don’t put televisions or lamps close to the air conditioning unit because the thermostat will pick up the heat from these appliances. This could result in your air conditioner running for longer than it should. Dust build-up should be vacuumed regularly from registers. Also, make sure that furniture, curtains, and other items are not positioned that blocks the airflow through the registers.
Change Your Cooking Habits
Summer weather is great for spending outdoors. You can conserve energy in a really pleasant way by doing your cooking on your grill outside. By not using your stove, this will help to keep the temperature cooler in your kitchen by as much as 5 to ten degrees.
Using a microwave oven, rather than your conventional oven, also helps to keep your kitchen cooler, and also uses a lot less energy too.
When the weather is really hot, avoid making coffee and cooking a hot meal, as this uses unnecessary electricity. For many people, a hot meal is not too appealing in the heat.
Instead, make and serve cold meals and drinks, which is not only appropriate for hot weather but will help a lot with energy conservation too.
Open Your Windows
If the climate you live in becomes cooler at night, then switch off your cooling system and open your windows during the hours that you are asleep. When you wake up in the morning, close the windows and shades or curtains to keep the cool air inside.
Go Ductless
Any homeowner who has had a ductless air conditioner installed in their home can attest to the endless benefits that a system like this has to offer. A ductless system installation is quick and usually takes about a day. They can greatly enhance a home’s comfort. You will also notice that your energy bills are majorly reduced after you start using one. Consequently, a system like this has a fantastic return on investment. For more information on what a ductless system can do for you, click the button below.
Turn It Off
Most of the energy given off from a light bulb is heat. They will cause the air inside your home to become warmer. This, in turn, makes it necessary to turn up your cooling system. Simply get into the habit of switching off lights where they are not being used. By doing this, you can save a significant amount of money on your monthly electricity bill.
Electronic devices still use electricity even if they are switched off. So, make sure to unplug phone chargers, hairdryers, and so forth, to avoid wasting electricity.
Replace Your Light Bulbs
Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-saving ones.
Switch to energy-saving bulbs in your home wherever possible. They use a lot less energy than conventional bulbs and they last a whole lot longer too.
Wear Loose Clothing To Stay Cool
A simple, yet effective way to conserve energy on those days when the weather is hot, is to wear light and cool, loose-fitting clothes. You won’t have to keep the temperature inside your home as cool by doing this.
Ventilate Your House Naturally
On those days when the weather is mild, turn off your air conditioning. Open the windows and let the cool outside airflow through your house. This is a great way to ventilate it naturally.
Use Your Fans
Fans are great for energy conservation. Fans, both the portable and ceiling type, work well to cool the air down in your home. Just make sure to run the ceiling fan in an anti-clockwise direction. Even if the air is circulating slowly, it is sufficient to help you cool down by 3 to 4 degrees.
Block Out The Sun
The summer sun is hot. When the sun is allowed to flow in through your windows, the air inside those rooms will become uncomfortably warm. You can prevent this from happening. Use sun control or some other form of reflective film to cover the windows on the south side of your house.
Entertain Outdoors
Summer is a great time for entertaining. If you do it all outside, you will save plenty of money and energy too. Besides, the human body generates heat. So, the more people inside of a room in your home, the hotter your house will be. This means that it will require more energy to keep it cool.
Use Your Garden
One really effective way to keep the inside of your home pleasantly cool is to beautify your garden. Plant some nice shady trees. This stops the sun from entering your home through the windows.
Keep Your Fridge Full
When the shelves are well-stocked, your fridge won’t warm up too quickly. Less energy is used. This is because your refrigerator will not to work too hard to stay at a low enough temperature.
Install Retractable Awnings
Retractable awnings not only look good on your home, but they can do a lot to help you with energy conservation when you are experiencing those hot summer days. Most retractable awnings are manufactured with different settings. You can open them partially, halfway, or fully. So, by simply setting them appropriately, you can stop the sun from entering your home. Less heat equals lower costs to run your air conditioner. This means, of course, successful, efficient energy conservation.
Conclusion
The above hints and tips on energy conservation are just a very few of the hundreds available. All of the tips can be used to save money on utility bills each month by reducing energy use. These tips are effective and many homeowners use them. The more of them that you do, the more that you will save. You can also think about installing a new AC system if yours isn’t performing as efficiently as it should. One option that is exceptionally energy efficient is the ductless system.
When it comes to cooling and energy efficiency, R.F. Ohl has what it takes to get your home where it needs to be for the summer. We have worked on thousands of homes, achieving reduced energy costs and enhanced comfort levels. We offer air conditioner tune-ups, AC repair, cooling system installations, ductless cooling, and much more. Our NATE certified technicians have the skills and knowledge of the latest HVAC industry advancements to get the job done well. Give us a call to speak to one of our home comfort specialists.
Contact us today or give us a call at (610) 377-1098 if you have any questions.