Ten Ways to Beat the Heat and High Energy Bills
The Dog Days of Summer, which officially run July 3 – August 11, are typically the hottest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and symbolic of the days when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose at about the same time as sunrise. Ancients sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing the star
was the cause of the hot,
sultry weather.
Here are 10 more modern ways to keep your home cool during the hot summer months and help you save on home energy costs, which can average $1,900 a year in a typical home.
Not Just Blowing Hot Air: A constantly running ceiling fan can cost up to $7 a month and it only makes you feel cool while under it without actually lowering the temperature of a room. Turn off fans when you leave a room. Remember to change or clean your a/c filters monthly since dirty filters restrict airflow and can cause the system to stay on longer.
Keep It To Yourself: Don’t pay to cool the outdoors. Weather-strip, seal, and caulk leaky doors and windows and install foam gaskets behind outlet covers.
Set It And Forget It: With an automatic thermostat you can save money by setting it to 78 degrees and switching it to auto. Consider setting it a little higher during the hours no one is home to save even more.
It’s Too Darn Hot: Need a reason to put off your chores? Plan to run clothes washers and dryers, ovens and dishwashers and other high-energy appliances during cooler morning and evening hours. Also, by keeping your curtains and shades drawn in the daytime over windows facing the sun, you’ll save money cooling the house and be able to sneak a nap without the neighbors knowing!
Lining Up: If you have a clothesline, summer is a great time to dry your laundry in the fresh air. For those who don’t have the option, run full loads in the dryer and clean the lint trap after each use to keep it running at maximum efficiency. If your dryer has a moisture-sensing setting, use it to shorten the drying cycle.
Don’t Be a Dim Bulb: Compact fluorescent bulbs produce less heat and are more efficient than incandescent and halogen lights. Don't forget to adjust your outdoor lighting timers to reap the benefits of shorter nights.
Fill ‘Er Up: If your parents nagged you to keep the refrigerator door shut, they were right. Keeping a fridge full also helps keep it from warming up too fast when the door is open.
Chillin’ And Grillin’: Charcoal grills keep the heat outdoors while microwave cooking in the kitchen can reduce energy consumption by two-thirds. Toaster oven and slow cooker meals as well as light summer fare such as salads and cold sandwiches are also money savers. When it’s time to clean up, using the dishwasher actually takes less water than hand washing but remember to set it to air dry instead of heat.
