Saving on electricity this summer

As much as possible, we keep the air conditioning during the summer set between 76 and 78 degrees. While this seems really warm to some (including my husband sometimes) the fact is that older houses with older air conditioner units can run almost non-stop during the summer as they struggle to cool down under the intense heat.

Changing filters and even paying for a tune-up on the unit can sometimes save you more than what you would normally spend on air conditioner electricity consumption during the summer.

Another way to reduce the amount of energy your air conditioner uses is to do whatever you can to hang onto that cool air! Sealing up the doors and windows is important during the summer, too, not just during the winterizing process.

Keeping heat sources to a minimum in your house during the summer will also keep you feeling cooler and reduce the amount of energy required to cool your home.

Begin by washing and drying your clothing when it is cooler -- early in the morning or late in the evening. With a family as large as ours, this can be a real challenge.

I often say the washer and dryer are the most overworked and under-appreciated appliances in my house.

When it’s mealtime, consider cooking outdoors. Grilling is a popular activity for families during the summer, not just because it takes place in the outdoors, but also because the more you cook outside, the cooler your kitchen stays.

In my opinion, a darker room is almost always a cooler room. After you have sealed up the cracks and sills around your windows, consider heavy drapes or curtains.

If you do not have the money to invest in heavy curtains, grab a tension rod and some sheets or even a blanket and throw them up there behind the regular curtain. This will help insulate your windows slightly while providing a temporary solution.

If company is coming and you are worried about appearances, just yank those temporary curtains down and hide them until the company leaves! Remember that lighter colors will reflect the light and heat back out, while dark colored drapes will absorb and hold in the heat you are seeking to eliminate.

There are obvious ways to save on keeping your house cooler. Reducing the number of times your doors are opened and closed will reduce the hot air coming into the house and prevent your cool (and costly) air from escaping.

Keeping the laundry room door closed will help contain the heat from the washer extractor in one room instead of having it heat other rooms in the house.

Turning off appliances and lights that are unnecessary and unplugging anything that is not in use in your house can provide at least a little bit of savings on your monthly bill.

If despite all these tips and reasonable ways to save, your bill is astronomical, talk with your electric provider. There are ways to spread out your payments or even get registered for an “average” bill throughout the year, which will help you avoid the spikes in electric costs during the summer.