Tips for Saving Energy in your Home this Summer

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Air Conditioners

To cool your house efficiently, your air conditioner needs to be cool itself. Keep it in the shade. If your air conditioner is already in the sun, you can build a wood shade screen for it―just don't block the air flow.

If you have central air conditioning, cool only the rooms you use. However, don't close all your vents. Closing too many vents actually reduces operating efficiency.

Turn the air conditioner thermostat up when you leave the house for several days or longer.

Don't switch your air conditioner to a colder setting when you turn it on. Constantly moving the thermostat up and down throughout the day wastes energy and money. Placing the thermostat at extremes won't cool your home any faster, it only makes your system work harder.

Set the thermostat as high as possible. For every degree you raise the thermostat setting on your air conditioner, your energy use will be reduced by 3 to 5 percent. The recommended energy efficient summer temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Where your thermostat is located sometimes determines how well it operates. It should never be placed on an exterior wall, where it would be affected by the hot or cold outdoor temperatures. Appliances that give off heat―like lamps―should be kept away from the thermostat to ensure that the instrument senses the temperature accurately.

To clean your thermostat, gently blow out any dust or lint. Because it is a delicate instrument, it should be cleaned gently. If your thermostat is 10 years old or older, you might replace it with a newer model that is more accurate and efficient.

Consider placing a timer on your room air conditioner or using a programmable thermostat on your central air conditioner. Hardware stores sell timers and programmable thermostats that will automatically start your air conditioner before you get home.

You can save energy by taking care of air conditioner coils. They won't work efficiently unless they are clean, so check them out every spring. If they are dusty, dirty or clogged with old leaves, you can vacuum them with your household vacuum cleaner. If the attachment on the vacuum cleaner won't fit between the coils, reverse the air flow and blow the dirt away instead.

Don't forget to check your filter at the beginning of the cooling season. A clogged filter will use up to five percent more energy than a clean one. Remove the filter and try to look through it at a bright light. If you cannot see light easily, clean or replace the filter.

Permanent filters can be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions; disposable filters should be replaced every month or two while the unit is in use.

Raise the temperature on the thermostat before you leave on a long weekend or vacation trip. Save your energy dollars during this time!

Find more information on how to save energy in your home with our Energy Savings Toolkit (customer login required).

More Cooling Tips

Using fans can help create an air flow that will make your home more comfortable. If you use an air conditioner, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4 degrees with no reduction in your comfort.

For maximum efficiency and comfort without an air conditioner, position a fan to blow air out of the house during the daylight hours and pull cooler air into the house after dark. For a window fan to work properly there should always be another window open in the area the fan is meant to ventilate.

If you have exhaust fans in your bathroom, laundry or kitchen, use them to help reduce the humidity burden on your air conditioner. These fans should not be used continuously, but periodically, as required.

During the heat of the day, avoid activities that would add heat and humidity to your home, like running your dryer, dishwasher or cooking.

Keep the heat out by drawing shades and curtains on hot days.

Air Leaks and Insulation

Check your home for air leaks. Common sources of air leaks include cracks around doors and windows; gaps along baseboards; mail chutes and pet doors; cracks in brick, siding or foundation; and where external lines (phone, cable, etc.) enter your home.

Plug air leaks with caulking or weather-stripping. This may help save up to 10 percent on your energy bill.

Consider replacing old windows. Storm or dual-glazed windows can reduce heat gain by as much as 50 percent. New windows often pay for themselves within five years.

Adequate insulation in your attic, ceilings, walls, floors and crawlspaces can save up to 30 percent on your energy bill. Read more about insulating your home: Save Money without Sacrificing Comfort.

Lighting

Use task lighting for under-counter kitchen lights and bathroom mirror lights. Task lights help reduce the need for ambient lighting of large spaces.

Dimmers, motion sensors or occupancy sensors help reduce the unnecessary use of lights.

Turn lights off when you leave a room. Standard incandescent light bulbs should be turned off whenever they are not needed, and fluorescent lights should be turned off whenever you will be away for at least 15 minutes.

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs. This replacement will help save about 50 percent on your lighting costs. CFLs require only one-fourth the energy and will last up to 10 time longer than incandescent bulbs.

A skylight can provide your room with natural light. An energy-efficient skylight when properly installed can minimize cooling and lighting costs.

Paint your walls with a light color. This will minimize the need for artificial lighting in the room.

Use white shades on your lamps. This color will help make the room appear brighter.

Appliances and Electronics

Toaster ovens, microwaves and counter-top grills use less energy and create less heat than a full-sized oven. Use these appliances when you need to prepare small portions of food.

Your dishwasher, oven, washer and dryer can add heat, moisture and humidity to the air of your home. Use these appliances in the evening when their use won't increase the demands on your air conditioner.

You can reduce your oven's baking temperature by 25 degrees if you use glass cookware.

Use your dishwasher only when you have a full load. This will help reduce the amount of hot water used.

Check the door gaskets on your refrigerator and freezer. Close the door on a dollar bill. If the bill can be easily pulled from the closed door, you should replace the gasket.

Don't pack your refrigerator and freezer space so tightly that air cannot adequately reach the food. Your refrigerator and freezer need room to circulate the cold air. The appliance will operate efficiently with space to circulate air throughout the compartments.

When doing laundry, use the cold water setting on your washer for most loads. This will help reduce the amount of hot water you use. Also, wash a load of laundry only when you have a full load. This simple tip may reduce the number of loads by up to 20 percent.

Use the lowest appropriate temperature setting on your dryer. Avoid partial loads or over loads in your dryer.

Read more about the energy consumption of new appliances: Consumption Up - New Appliances Eat Energy.

Check out the general guidelines for when to turn your computer off or leave it on.

Water Heaters

Install a shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) for maximum water efficiency.

Repair a leaky hot water faucet. A single leak can waste gallons of water in a very short period of time.

Check the thermostat setting on your water heater. Most homes only require a setting of 120 degrees. Lowering the setting of your water heater thermostat can save approximately 3 to 5 percent in energy costs.

Make sure your hot water pipes are insulated. This reduces heat loss and helps lower your consumption of hot water.

Landscaping

Plant trees to shade your home. Their shade will help reduce your cooling costs. Read Tree Planting Tips - Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place for more information.

Plant shrubs, bushes and vines next to your home to create dead air spaces that will help insulate the exterior walls in summer and winter. Make sure to leave at least one foot of space between the wall and the fully mature plant.

Vines can be a source of shade for your home. Use a lattice or trellis to encourage the vine to climb in a designated area.