Top 10 ways to reduce
summertime energy usage and increase your cash flow.
Baby,
it's hot out there!
And when the temperature rises, so does energy
usage - by up to one third during the summer months
- mostly thanks to hard-working air conditioners.
Truth is, there are plenty of simple
and smart ways to reduce summertime energy usage without
ever breaking a sweat....
- Get
in the zone. Add specially placed thermostats
and motorized dampers for zoned air-conditioning.
When you adjust for rooms' cooling needs, you also
adjust your comfort level - and energy bills.
- Dim the lights.
Adjust timers on outdoor lighting to account for longer
days. Citronella candles and tiki torches may be efficient
for patio and deck lighting.
- Ditch the sprinkler.
Replace some grass with drought resistant, low-growing
plants. What's more, these low maintenance greens
spread quickly and cut down on lawn mowing time.
- Develop a green
thumb. Shade a home's south side with leafy
trees. Besides protecting your house from the highest
heat, they provide a cool refuge for picnics and games.
- Pull the shades.
Shut blinds and curtains to block heat. When you invest
in quality window treatments, it will affect your
energy bills during the coldest winter months as well.
- Buy smart.
Choose electric mowers and trimmers over gas-guzzling
models. You'll enjoy less maintenance as well.
- Simplify meal prep.
Cook with a microwave, toaster oven or slow cooker
rather than the stove. That's right - the easier the
cooking method is for you, the easier it will be on
your bills.
- Improve your view. Plant shrubs
to shade air conditioners. Well-designed landscaping
also add curb appeal and increases property value.
- Make the switch. Replace clogged
air filters in cooling systems. Keeping track of filter
expiration dates on a calendar prevents the out-of-sight,
out-of-mind syndrome.
- Go old school. Clean up grass trimmings
with a broom instead of a blower. Sweeping cuts down
on noise pollution too.
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