When the summer months hit, your electricity bill might suffer. Running your air conditioner can rack up costs particularly. Here are a few tips for keeping yourself comfortable and your bills low this summer.
Turn off your A/C and invest in a really, really good fan.
I know we’ve probably all been there; trying to last through the dog days of summer with only a small plug-in fan. It doesn’t necessarily sound like a great way to spend your days, but you’d be surprised at the huge difference between your average fan, and some of the newer, high powered fans on the market! Consider it an investment, as most of the better fans will run you $100-$200, but if you compare this with the savings of not running your air conditioning, it could pay for itself within just a month or two. Look for a “tower” fan (meaning the actual fan is tall, not just the base), or one that reaches over fifty feet. Our favorite is the Vornado, which circulates and cools air up to 90 feet.
Turn off your lights whenever possible.
During the summer months, you can save electricity by keeping your lights off for longer portions of the day. Instead, open your blinds to let in more natural light. You can also install energy efficient light bulbs throughout your home. They’ll cost a little more than your average light bulb, but this will again save you more money in the long run which is the most important.
Limit your fridge space, or use an energy efficient refrigerator.
While many people like to keep an extra fridge and/or freezer for added food storage, refrigerators are actually one of the biggest energy costs in your home. This especially applies in the summertime, when our appliances have to work much harder to keep temperatures low enough to keep food fresh. Consider unplugging your extra fridge in the summer, or if you’re in the market for a new fridge, look for one with an efficiency label, as the monthly cost to run it will be much lower.
Unplug electronics when not in use.
Most of us keep our electronics plugged in 24/7, especially with things like computers, televisions, and TV accessories. What you may not know is that our electronics continue to use small amounts of energy even when they’re powered off, if they remain plugged into the wall. Unplugging your electronic devices when they’re not in use can save you a handful of money on your monthly energy bill.
Wash your dishes and/or laundry by hand.
Washing your dishes or laundry by hand can also help you save on your electric and water bill. Running dishwashers and laundry machines slowly but surely adds onto your monthly bills. Fortunately, you’ll likely have fewer dishes in the summer months anyway, and when the sun is out, your clothing and linens will dry much more quickly on a clothesline in the yard.
Keep active outside!
Last but not least, keep yourself and your family active outside during the summer months. Spending time outside means that you can turn off an unplug your electrical devices and enjoy your days out in the summer sun!
