10 Energy Savings Tips for the Summer

As the temperatures jump in the summer and you crank up the air conditioning at home, your energy use rises and so can your bills. But there are several actions you can take to use less energy and keep more money in your wallet. Here are 10 energy saving tips for the summer:

1. Have Your HVAC System Routinely Maintained

Manufacturers suggest that you have your heating and cooling system checked every year to make sure that everything functions properly. Regular maintenance increases your unit’s life expectancy and helps to ensure that when you turn your AC or heat on for the first day of the season, it will be problem free.

2. Keep Your Thermostat as High as You Comfortably Can

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and higher when you’re gone. Just because the AC is on doesn’t mean your home needs to feel like a freezer! It is summertime, after all.

3. Use a Programmable Thermostat

An investment in a programmable thermostat will save you money in the long run. You can program temperatures based on the days of the week or time of day so you don’t cool an empty home or tax the system with up-and-down temperature adjustments.

4. Make Sure Windows and Doors Are Properly Sealed

If air can get through weak seals on closed doors and windows, you throw money away. Your air conditioner will have to work harder to keep your house cooled to the temperature you set when it loses air to the outside or allows hot air in.

5. Properly Insulate Your Home

Insulate your walls and attic to make your home more energy efficient. Proper insulation means the inside of your home is less affected by the temperature outside because less heat gets through and cool isn’t wasted going out through your ceiling and walls.

6. Use Window Curtains and Shades Smartly

Close your curtains and shades during the day to keep some of the heat from the sun out of your home. Open them at night when it’s cooler.

7. Run Fans

When possible, use fans instead of the air conditioner. But even if you use both at the same time, it could save energy. According to the Department of Energy, if you use a ceiling fan, you can raise the thermostat 4 degrees without feeling discomfort.

8. Avoid Using the Oven

Your oven heats up your whole kitchen and causes your air conditioning to work harder. During the summer, opt for cooking out on the grill, on the stove top or in the microwave, or choose meals that don’t require cooking at all, like salads.

9. Use Cold Water for Laundry and Dry Clothes Outside

Consider washing your clothes in cold water to avoid using the energy of the hot water heater. Then, let Mother Nature help you dry! Instead of turning on your clothes dryer, hang up a clothesline outside, and let the summer sun and breeze dry your clothes. It’ll save you money, energy and on the hottest days, even time.

10. Open Windows When It’s Cool

If you live somewhere that temperatures drop at night, take advantage of the energy-free cooling and crack windows in your home. You can turn the air back on in the morning and close windows and blinds for the day.

If you’re interested in these energy-saving tips for summer and would like to help others make their homes more efficient, a career as an HVAC technician might be a great fit for you. Contact Charter College today to learn how our program can help.