Energy Blog

11 things you can do to increase energy savings for the summer

April 20, 2018

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Energy savings is at the top of the list of summer goals for most people. Here are a few tips to help you beat the heat and keep your electric bill down this year.

  1. Set your air conditioner thermostat as high as comfortably possible. We recommend 78ºF or higher when you’re home. Use a smart thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature. Resist the urge to turn your thermostat down too far. Lowering the temperature does not speed up how fast your home cools down. Experiment with the temperature and find the highest setting you can comfortably use.

 

  1. Make sure you have your unit serviced regularly. A properly functioning air conditioner can greatly reduce the amount of energy used to operate a unit. If you are using your air conditioner daily consider changing your filters monthly instead of every three months. A clean filter will allow air to flow more easily, causing your unit to work more efficiently.

 

  1. During the day close your blinds and block any source of outside heat. At night open up your home while it’s cool. This is a very basic, yet extremely cost effective way to increase your energy savings.

 

  1. Use Window, ceiling and whole-house fans to stay comfortable. They cool a room down by circulating the air and creating a breeze. Whole-house fans pull cooler air from outside in, and push the hot air in the attic out, causing your home to cool down. Both traditional fans and whole-house fans use much less energy than running an air conditioner.

 

  1. Keep your indoor heet down. Turn off any lights you don’t need. Use energy efficient bulbs when possible, only run heat producing appliances like the washer and dryer at night, hand wash your dishes, or let them air dry if using a dishwasher.

 

  1. Take your water heater temperature down to 120 degrees. You will use less energy to keep you water heated up and during the warm months you probably won’t notice the drop in water temperature.

 

  1. Set your washing machine to cold water. If you can; hang dry your landry. If you have to use a dryer change the lint trap after every use. And only run it at night.

 

  1. Unplug anything you are not using. Many electrical devices run in low power mode if not turned completely off. This can add up when you have multiple electrical devices running on low power mode. Some of them can still produce heat while running on low power.    

 

  1. Don’t let Hot Air Leak Into Your Home. Seel up any cracks or gaps that let hot air, from outside, in. You can find caulking or weather strips at Lowes or Home Depot to fill in gaps around your windows and doors.

 

  1. This one isn’t something people usually think about. Try adding trees, and shrubs to create shade in the summer, and act as a windbreaker in the winter months.

 

  1. Set up a patio or awning to block out the sun during the summer. If they are removable take them down in the winter to let in the sunlight.

 

If you follow these tips it will help to maximize your energy savings this summer! For even more home efficiency tips for the winter, click here!

 

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If you want all the benefits of spray foam insulation, call us today! (870) 307-2373

Reeves Insulation has been in business, in the Batesville area, for over 30 years offering insulation, replacement windows, air sealing, and weatherization. Owner, Marvin Reeves started in the general contracting industry and his background has transferred over to Insulation and Home Energy Conservation, providing homeowners and businesses energy efficiency services to lower energy bills. Our business is family owned and operated and our goal is to provide you the best job at an affordable cost.