Higher energy costs are more commonly associated with the cold winter months, but, with the air conditioning up high and the kids off school watching television and playing video games, it should be no surprise to you that your energy bills spike throughout the summer too. The warm weather can be wonderful at times, but it certainly comes with a price. If you want to cut costs and save some energy this summer, here are six simple things you and your family can do.
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Host A Family Barbeque
Cooking during the summer months is almost unbearable. After all, when it’s already warm, no one wants to stand around in a hot and steamy kitchen. To save yourself the bother, and keep your energy bills low, you should pop some hotdogs and burgers on the grill and invite your family over for a barbeque. This way, you can enjoy the weather and avoid heating up your home.
Turn Off Your Electronics
When your kids are home from school, they’re going to want to play video games and watch television. They’ll also need to charge their laptops, phones, and tablets more often. There’s little you can do avoid this, but you should make sure that they turn off and unplug electronics when they’re not using them. This will cut down on the amount of phantom power your home uses.
Consider Replacing Your Windows
During the winter, your windows are vital for keeping the cold air out of your home, but what many people don’t realize, is that they can keep your home cool throughout the summer too. Buying new vinyl windows and keeping them closed throughout the day will help to insulate your property. This means you’ll have to use less energy on fans and air conditioning.
Keep Your Curtains Drawn
Even with the best windows on the planet, the sunlight coming through them will still heat up your home, causing you to use more energy keeping the place cool. To insulate your property even further, you should make sure that you keep your curtains drawn during the hottest parts of the day, especially if your windows face south. This will block the light, thus keeping your home cool.
Wash In Cooler Water
When you do your laundry this summer, you should avoid using hot water whenever you can. Instead, opt for warm or cool water, as this uses much less electricity, but generally washes your clothes just as well. You can also use cooler water when you’re washing your dishes. This will save energy and also keep you from getting too warm.
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Dry Your Clothes Outside
Tumble dryers are incredibly useful when it’s too cold or raining, but during the lovely summer months, you should take advantage of the sun. If you don’t have one already, get yourself a good clothesline and peg your washing up outside to dry. On really warm days, it will dry faster outside anyway, which means you’ll save yourself time, energy, and money.
Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be able to cut down your energy bills this summer.
Candid Mama
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