Saving More Money During the Summer Months

Any time of the year is a good time to reduce your energy costs. 

But, not more so than during the warm to scorching hot months of Summer. 

Here are a few tips that may alleviate the hurt on your electricity bills.

• Set your air condition on the timer, so it's not on constantly. If you have central cooling, then your A.C. panel should have a timer. There are portable air units that run anywhere from $80-160. They should have presets so you can choose set them to your preferences. Also, check your windows for leaks of air, that money escaping through those pesky leaks.

• You can replace worn strips. Any gaps underneath doors leading outside should be sealed as well. I used garage door molding for an old drafty apartment I had, worked just fine. Or even a old towel would work, be creative.

• Also keep a vigilant eye on your A.C. filters. A filthy filter will reduce your units efficiency, resulting in higher electric bills, plus reduction in the unit's ability to cool. They're quite affordable, so don't skimp.

• When doing laundry, hang up your clothes outside to dry, also if your dryer's within vicinity of your immediate living area, you spare yourself the heat it radiates. If this isn't viable for you, maybe considering setting the dryer on low heat, or no heat. I actually prefer to dry my clothes with no heat, keeps my clothes staying crisper and new looking.

• Using your oven in the middle of the day is a big no-no, especially if you have your A.C. on simultaneously. The heat radiating from the oven or even stove will undermine your air conditioning's effectiveness. Portable stoves can be set up outside, it's actually fun to cook outside.

• There are new light-bulbs that last longer and use substantially less power, also they burn much cooler. If you're bulbs are out of date, it's a quick fix to a problem that will make a clear difference. 

 

Philips 461129 60 Watt Equivalent Soft White A19 LED Light Bulb, 16-Pack  

If you're without an A.C. unit, there are other ways to stay cool while saving on power bills. You can hang a damp towel over an open window, and it will cool the air coming into your home.

It's always a good time to reduce your energy costs. Global warming is demonstrably real. Let's all do our parts to lower our energy consumption to preserve our planet, while saving some money as well. 

If anyone has suggestions or additions to this article, I'd love to hear from you!