It can get pretty hot this time of year on Cape Cod. And because we care about your comfort and your wallet all year long, we wanted to share with you these 15 energy conservation tips to help you save money this summer.
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Keep the coils of your central or window air conditioner free of dust and dirt.
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Change or clean your air conditioning filter monthly during the cooling season to improve efficiency and extend the life of your air conditioner.
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Install an attic fan - it can cool your attic by nearly 30 degrees!
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Make sure ceiling fan blades are spinning counterclockwise, the proper direction for summer.
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Install a dehumidifier, which can significantly improve your home’s comfort and air quality by removing excess moisture.
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Install a programmable or smart thermostat.
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Clear furniture away from air conditioning vents.
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Cook on the outdoor grill, to keep cooking heat outside the home.
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When cooking inside, use a microwave instead of a conventional oven. It uses less than half the power and cooks food in about one-fourth the time.
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During the hot summer afternoons, avoid using appliances and unplug unused electronics, which can give off background heat even when they’re turned off.
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Install reflective window coatings to reflect heat away from your home.
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During the day, block the heat from the sun by closing windows, doors and curtains.
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Plant shade trees due west of west windows. It could reduce your air conditioning bills by up to 25 percent!
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Open windows on cool summer days and nights. A good rule of thumb is to open windows when the outside temperature is cooler than the inside of your house.
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Switch out your light bulbs from incandescent to LED bulbs. Roughly 90 percent of energy consumed by the older bulbs is converted into heat, compared with LEDs at 10 to 20 percent.
South Shore Heating & Cooling also offers home energy audits and FREE conservation consultations, which will provide you with a full picture of your home’s energy usage. (Check out our other July blog post for more information on our home energy audits.)
Contact us for more energy conservation tips or to schedule your home energy audit or conservation consultation.
