Save Money with Warm Weather Energy Saving Tips

After one of the coldest winters in decades, many people are looking forward to warmer months ahead. Rising temperatures might be a welcome change, but rising energy bill costs aren’t! Many people assume high utility bills are only common during the cold winter months, but spring and summer months can be costly when it comes to your monthly household budget. Weatherproofing your home isn’t just for winter – a few easy fixes and actions on your part could lead to big savings in the summer, too!

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these simple tips could lower your home cooling bill and lead to some big savings:

• Use your windows to gain cool air and keep out heat: open windows at night and then shut them in the morning to close in the cool air. Use window treatments to block out sun and keep your house cool.
• Operate your thermostat efficiently: get a programmable thermostat and keep it turned up while you’re away.
• Use fans and ventilation strategies to circulate cool air: Use ceiling fans and other forms of spot ventilation – like in laundry rooms and bathrooms – to push warm air out of the house.
• Keep your cooling system running efficiently: schedule regular maintenance for your air conditioning unit and keep your air registers free of dust and obstructions like furniture.
• Don’t heat your home with appliances and lighting: keep lights off and cook outside on the grill to avoid turning on the oven or stove on really hot days. Use energy efficient bulbs and only run appliances like dryers and dishwashers with full loads.
• Keep hot air from leaking into your home: consider more energy efficient windows or use caulk and weather stripping to seal up leaks.
• Turn down the thermostat on your water heater: turn it to the warm setting – 120 degrees.

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