From Guest Blogger Lizzie: Energy Efficiency — Five Ways to Keep Your House Cooler this Summer

As temperatures climb, keeping your home cool jumps to the top of your list of priorities. Stock up on popsicles, fill the ice maker, set out the sprinklers, and follow these five tips to keep your house cooler this summer.

Draw the Shades

It’s tempting to keep the blinds open all day during the summer so you can enjoy your garden without suffering the heat (and to keep an eyes on the kids in the pool), but because your windows are one of the biggest sources of heat gain, this can raise the temperature of your home.

Make sure small swimmers are supervised in the pool, but do your best to close the curtains when the sun starts coming in. Get your whole family involved—drapes left open in one of the kids’ rooms will raise the temperature of all the rooms around it.

Use Your Air Conditioner Wisely

When the temperature starts soaring past 90˚, you may want to crank up the AC to its highest capacity and turn the thermostat way down, but resist. Instead,

Keep the thermostat in the mid-70s. Setting the thermostat to a lower setting keeps your unit running all the time, driving up your energy bill without doing much to further cool your home. Set the thermostat a little higher (73˚-78˚ is ideal for most units) and use fans to circulate cool air when the unit isn’t on.

Replace and clean your air filters. During the summer months, it’s recommended that you clean your air filters every month. Or, if you can, replace your air filters monthly. Replacing your filters every month can save you up to 5% of your cooling costs.

Turn the air off when you aren’t at home and at night.

You may want to consider switching to a programmable thermostat, especially if you have trouble remembering to turn the air off when you leave the house.

Using your AC wisely will keep your energy bill lower and your house cooler.

Keep an Eye on Your Appliances

Appliances like your fridge and oven create ambient heat that forces your cooling system to work harder to keep the temperature down. Use these tips to counteract the heat your appliances can create.

• Only run your dryer and dish washer at night, when temperatures are lower.
• Use your microwave or grill instead of your oven when you can.
• Turn off your lights when not in use.
• Set your water heater to its “warm” setting (120˚).
• If you have an extra fridge or freezer in the garage, see if you can consolidate into one common fridge and unplug the other for the season.

Your appliances can make everyday tasks easier, but, during the summer, keep an eye on how you use them to be sure they don’t end up costing you more!

Keep Your Windows Up to Date

Not only do older windows date your home, but they also making your system have to work harder to keep your home cool. In the short-term, you will want to check the seal on your windows. If you find any cracks, gaps, or holes between the pane and the window sill, you can re-caulk them to repair the seal.

If you have single-pane windows, replacing them with a more energy-efficient type of window can save you between $126 and $465 every year on heating and cooling costs, depending on the climate you live in and how many windows you replace. Most window installation companies, like Rusco Industries, offer Energy Star window options. Many companies offer complimentary evaluations so you can figure out your best long-term solution.

Use Nature to Your Advantage

It may seem counter-intuitive, but you can (and should) use the weather in your area to your advantage. If you live in a desert, temperatures will drop as soon as the sun sets. Keep the windows cracked during the night to keep your home cool for free! If you live in an area with summer breezes, take advantage of your screen door (or install one if you don’t have one already). A good breeze can ventilate your home.

No matter how old your house is, or what climate you’ll be spending the summer months in, these tips can help keep you cool this summer.