The hot days of summer can be tamed a bit with good energy habits that can make your home more comfortable.
It’s never too late to make a few changes to help keep things cool and lower your energy costs.
Check for loose or leaky windowpanes. If your home still has single-pane windows, consider replacing them or adding a window film. Single-pane windows allow cool air to easily escape your home during the summer and warm air to seep out in the winter. Replacing old, inefficient windows now is an investment that will pay for itself in energy savings year-round—and keep your home more comfortable.
If you still use incandescent lightbulbs, it’s time to make the switch to LEDs. These bulbs are far more energy efficient than old-fashioned bulbs, which produce more heat than light. That heat works against your air conditioner during the summer.
When air conditioner filters get dirty, they get clogged—and air can’t flow freely through them. That forces your AC unit to work harder. Replace air filters once a month during cooling season.
Install a programmable thermostat, which automatically adjusts the temperature so you use less energy to cool your home when no one is there. The device can save you up to $100 a year on cooling and heating bills.
Move appliances and lamps away from your thermostat. Because they emit heat, they can trick your thermostat into thinking that the house is warmer than it really is—and to work harder than it needs to cool it off.
Keep drapes and blinds closed during the hottest part of the day to minimize the amount of heat from the sun that enters your home. Consider installing solar screens or shutters to block the heat before it can get in.
