How To Save Money & Energy During These Hot Months

This last month has been blisteringly hot! It seems that however much I turned down our air conditioning our place looses its cool everytime a door opens. If you are like me you want to know ways to save money & energy over these overwhelmingly hot summer days.

According the Alliance to Save Energy Website there are several ways (with no cost to you) that will help cut down on your energy intake and add dollars to your pocket. Here are just a few;

• Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc.
• Check the furnace or air conditioner (AC) filter each month, and clean or replace it as needed. Dirty filters block air flow through your heating and cooling systems, increasing your energy bill and shortening the equipment’s life.
• During hot months, keep window coverings closed on the south, east, and west windows. .
• Activate "sleep" features on computers and office equipment that power down when not in use for a while. Turn off equipment during longer periods of non-use to cut energy costs and improve longevity.
• When cooking, keep the lids on pots. Better yet, use a microwave oven instead.
• Dress appropriately for the weather, and set your thermostat to the lowest possible comfortable setting.
• In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of AC, and ventilate at night this way when practical. Using fans to supplement AC allows you to raise the thermostat temperature, using less energy. Fans cost less to use than AC.
• About 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. To save hot water, take five-minute showers instead of baths. Do only full loads when using the clothes washer or dishwasher. Use cold water for laundry and save up to $63 a year—detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean.
• Lower the temperature on your water heater. It should be set at “warm,” so that a thermometer held under running water reads no more than 120 degrees.
• Only cool the rooms you need—close vents and doors of unused rooms.

For a complete list, including "The Ultimate Checklist," click here. For all your real estate needs contact Nolting Real Estate at www.noltingrealestate.com and/or 636-391-9997.