The hottest months of the year can be challenging for people who want to keep their energy bills low while still keeping cool. With a few simple changes around your house, you’re sure to save a bundle this summer.
Little things such as closing your blinds and planting trees in front of south and west facing windows certainly help reduce the amount of sunlight and heat that enters your home. You can also plant shade-giving shrubs around your outdoor air conditioning unit (not too close as to create blockage) to dramatically reduce your energy consumption.
Many people find that investing in a digital thermostat helps them control their energy use and add on significant savings. According to ShopWiki.com, digital thermostats allow you to most accurately adjust and maintain the temperature in your home, and when used correctly, they can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 10%.
Other common sense measures, such as lowering the thermostat on your water heater, washing and drying clothes in the evening, and remembering to change your air filter once a month can really add up.
Insulate Your Attic
If your attic isn’t insulated, that is definitely something that you need to consider. Increasing the inches of your insulation can lower your energy bills significantly. Find a business in your area that offers spray-foam or blown-in insulation at a price that won’t break the bank. Advanced Insulation Technology in Auburn specializes in spray-applied polyurethane foam insulation with advanced coatings for moisture, fire and sound; prices vary on the size of your area. Superior Foam Insulation in Wetumpka offers a sprayed-in-place polyurethane closed-cell foam insulation. Central Alabama Insulation in Selma offers sealed-action 500 open-cell and Heatlok soy closed-cell spray foam insulation that is an eco-friendly option. Additional vendors include Ecological Insulation, serving Auburn, Montgomery and Birmingham; Progressive Insulation in Montgomery, and Foam One, also in Montgomery.
Additionally, Home Depot is currently offering blown-in fiberglass insulation at only 99 cents per square foot. Visit the Home Depot website to learn more.
Keep Air Moving
Continual air circulation is important, especially if you decide to turn your air conditioner off and open up some windows. If you have a whole-house fan, turn it on! Turn off ventilator fans in your bathroom when you’ve finished showering so that cool air isn’t pulled outdoors. A few, inexpensive floor fans can be kept in your most commonly used rooms such as your bedroom and office.
Keep Heat Out
Complete an energy audit on your home to determine how much of your cooling goes out the door… and windows, chimney, basement, attic, ducts, and walls! Dixie Electric Cooperative performs free energy audits for their customers, but If you want to DIY, Alabama Power has an energy checklist survey that can help you pinpoint where you could be saving on your energy bills. Once you’ve determined that your house is draft-free by sealing windows and door jambs, it’s time to assess how many appliances you have around your home that generate heat. Your dishwasher, television sets, clothes dryer, large lamps, and stove are all on the list. Though individually these items may not create a great deal of heat, you should still get into the habit of turning off appliances (including the television) when they are not in use. There is more than one reason that cookouts are so popular when the weather heats up! Keep the heat outside, where it belongs! When you’re done, wash dishes without the drying cycle to reduce the amount of heat pumping back into your kitchen.
Added Incentive
If you’re planning on updating the windows, doors, or skylights, there has never been a better time to purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products. If you have ENERGY STAR certified windows, doors, or skylights installed in your home in 2009 or 2010, you may be eligible for tax credits. To find out if you qualify, visit the Energy Star website.
