Summertime is the time of year we like to splurge.
It’s the perfect time for outdoor fun. We go on family vacations, throw backyard barbecues, frequent amusement parks, buy beach badges and summer treats and spend money on a host of other family activities.
In addition to playing outdoors, the sun beams down on us. Temperatures rise and so does our summer bills.
But don’t fret. We have tips to save you money on summer bills so you can enjoy spending on the fun activities summer has to offer.
How to Cut Summer Bills in Half
Follow these tips to save on summer bills. You’ll be amazed at how much money you can put away.
Save on Cooling Costs
There is a myriad of ways to save on cooling costs. You can even arrange to pay your bills on a yearly schedule when the power company averages your bills so they cost the same each month.
1. Keep Windows Closed on Hot Days
It may seem like the opposite, but keeping windows closed on hot days makes your home cooler.
Make sure to shut the blinds and draw the curtains to block the sun from getting in.
Open them when the sun goes down. In the evening, let the air circulate through the house to keep it cool and turn off the air conditioning. Don’t forget to close the windows in the morning before the sun gets strong.
2. Use Fans to Circulate Air
Ceiling fans offer a great way to circulate air and keep the house cool. Direct them so they push the hot air away from you.
This works well with window fans, too. Use two fans. Place one fan in the window in reverse so it blows the hot air from inside outside the window. Then put a fan in another window blowing the cool air in.
3. Program Your Thermostats
Programming the thermostats in your home makes an efficient way to reduce energy. A thermostat can save a lot of money on your summer bills when it’s set effectively.
Set it to a comfortable temperature. Program it to shut off or set to a lower temperature in the evening when it gets cooler. Make sure to lower it when you leave for the day.
4. Close the Vents
If you have a central air conditioning unit, you know it cools down every room where you have a vent. Save money on your summer bills when you close the vents in the rooms that you don’t use.
For example, if you have a guestroom that you don’t spend time in, close the vent in that room to save on energy.
5. Close the Damper in the Fireplace
If you have a fireplace in your home and the damper is open, you’re throwing money away in the sky. The cool air from the AC goes up the fireplace.
Shut the damper so you keep more air inside. And your AC unit won’t have to work as hard to cool off the room.
How to Save on Electric
Follow these tips to save electric power. By making these changes to your lighting and electronics, you can cut your summer spending power costs.
6. Shut Off Lights and Appliances When Not in Use
It’s not secret, lights add to the costs of energy. Especially incandescent lighting that produces a lot of heat. In fact, only a small portion of incandescent lighting turns into light. The remainder turns to heat.
During the summer, turn off lights that aren’t in use. You’ll save a considerable amount of energy as well as reduce the temperature throughout your home.
We all forget to turn off a light switch or a lamp when we leave the room. But keeping lights off is a good way to save on summer bills.
How to Save Power and Heat on Kitchen Appliances
On hot days a cool meal tastes refreshing. You can eat shellfish, salads or cool food items and ditch the stove.
If you want a hot meal like a hamburger, hot dog or grilled food, consider using the outdoor barbecue to whip up a meal.
Using the dishwasher can run power as well as water. A way to conserve power is to wait until the dishwasher is full before running it. The same goes for your washer and dryer.
Putting full loads in the washer and dryer will save on energy. Another energy-saving option is to hang your clothes on a clothesline instead of using the dryer.
You won’t believe how fresh your sheets and clothes smell after being dried in the sun!
You can also save power by unplugging microwaves and toaster ovens which generate a lot of power.
7. Take Electronics Off Standby
Electronics like TV, computers and stereo appliances can heat up a house.
They even produce heat when they’re not in use if they’re set to standby power. If you see a light on, the appliance is in standby power. Unplug surge protectors and power strips when they’re not in use.
How to Save Money on Water
Conserving water in the bathroom and the laundry will reduce water costs and Cut your water costs by following these water-saving tips.
8. Take Shorter Showers
Most of the indoor water use occurs in the bathroom. We run the water faucet to brush our teeth, wash our hands and take showers every day. Sometimes when it gets really hot, we can take two to three showers a day to cool down.
When taking showers, make them short. When flushing the toilet, make sure the toilet doesn’t run. You might want to consider purchasing an energy-saving toilet to cut down on excess water usage in the toilet.
9. Tips for Your Garden Hose and Sprinkler
The sun soaks up so much water from your grass and garden. To save water, use the hose in the evening when the sun won’t soak up all the water. This assures your garden and grass will be able to absorb the water.
Another tip is to limit sprinkler use if you have a sprinkler. Set it to times when the sun isn’t strong so you won’t waste water. Don’t forget to turn it off when it rains. So many people waste water leaving sprinklers on in the rain.
10. Long-term Solutions to Save Power and Water
Here are some things you can do to save water and power. They’re long-term solutions take an initial investment but will save you money in the long run.
- Buy energy-saving refrigerators, appliances, and toilets
- Consider investing in solar energy
- Install a rain sensor on your irrigation system to avoid excess watering
- Plant trees near the window to block the sun
- Buy plants that don’t need lots of water to survive
These long-term investments provide a smart way of saving throughout the years.
The Takeaway on Saving On Summer Bills
Now you have 10 ways to save on summer bills. Apply these energy-saving tips and enjoy more summer sports, vacations and summer treats.
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