Have a Cool Green Summer

Have a cool green summer

You can have a cool green summer, if you follow a few steps to cut energy costs at home.  Just because the temperature is rising doesn’t mean your power bill should too!

These tips can help you save on energy during summer, without having to adjust your thermostat drastically (although pushing it up a few degrees is also a wise move).  By incorporating a few small, inexpensive changes, you’ll cut the heat in your home, including the need to run the A/C.

1.  Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact florescent bulbs.  You may be surprised to learn that up to 30% of the energy used to light your home with traditional bulbs is lost in the form of heat energy.  Recall the “E-Z Bake Oven?”  That toy literally baked a cake using the heat of a lightbulb.  Spend just a bit more for CF bulbs and you’ll not only use less power to light your home, but it will literally be cooler, too.

2.  Do not use the oven, dishwasher or clothes dryer during the day.  All three appliances leak excess heat and energy into the home, raising the temperature when the sun is already blazing hot.  Try turning off your dishwasher dryer and allowing the dishes to air dry.  Grill outside instead of using the oven, when you can.  And, if permitted in your neighborhood, install a clothesline outside on which to dry your clean clothes.  If you live in an arid region, you might even want to put up a clothesline indoors to help humidify your home.

Beat the heat with nature

3.  Close the blinds or drapes when you leave for the day, particularly with east and west-facing windows.  Radiant heat is intensified when it passes through glass windows, warming up the interior of your house by up to an additional 8-10 degrees.  Of course, don’t forget to turn off all the lights too, even if they are compact fluorescent bulbs.

4.  Open the windows at night and in the early morning to allow cool air into your home.  If you have a screen doors, you may want to open some doors, too.  Just be sure to close things up before you leave for the day.

5.  Plant some trees or shrubs near your home to provide shade.  An awning or canopy can provide the same effect, but may cost substantially more.  Just be sure to allow the space for your plants to mature.

There are many things you can do to keep cool during summer.  Cutting energy costs will be an added benefit to the comfort you can feel by planning ahead and making a few small adjustments.

Hope you have a cool green summer!