With the summer temperatures on the rise, most people are thinking about ways to stay cool. Going to the river or lake is always a good option and, other folks like to hit the water parks or splash pads. But, hanging out at home is always a good way to enjoy some quality time and stay cool in the rising summer temperatures.
And, when you are at home it is important to be thinking about how you are using the energy around your house. This is the time of year when most people see a marked increase in the cost of their utilities because there are more bodies in the house all day with the kids being out of school for the summer break.
Keeping your power bill at a reasonable amount is essential to maintaining a good budget of your home, and there are some ways that you can save energy around your house this summer:
- Set your air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees when you are at home. You can run ceiling fans or floor fans to decrease the temperature a bit more if 78 is too warm. And, if you are not at home, set your thermostat to 85 to really see some deep savings.
- Have your air conditioner serviced and replace the filters to ensure the maximum energy-efficiency. The filters being clean is especially important to saving energy when running your air conditioner.
- Unplug appliances and electronics when you’re not using them. This is especially important if your kids are at home this summer and they have gaming systems, televisions, or computers in their room.
- Keep these items plugged into power strips and just turn the power strips off when the electronics are not being used.
Keep your energy bill to a minimum this summer by following these tips. Some of that money you save could go towards a camping trip or even a weekend getaway! The summer months are great for rest and relaxation … not for stressing about the household budget!