From Guest Blogger Hannah Whittenly: Five Ways to Be Energy-Conscious This Summer & Still Beat the Heat

The summer heat can start to get oppressive when you don’t have an escape from it. One option is to run your AC constantly, but at the expense of your wallet. Here are some other solutions to help you be energy conscious and stay cool.

Use Natural Cooling Methods

Open up your windows at night so that your house can cool down. You may need to invest in some locking solutions for your windows so that you can keep them open all night long. Close up your house as soon as the sun starts to come up in the morning. This will allow you to trap the cool air inside. You may want to set up a window fan to draw in more of the cool night air.

Invest in HVAC Maintenance

Look into air conditioning repair options in your area if your AC isn’t running at peak efficiency. This will help on those days when the air never seems to cool down. Set your thermostat to maintain a consistent temperature in your home. Having the AC trying to play catchup makes it less efficient.

Eat Cool Foods

Avoid using your oven as much as possible. Your oven is essentially a large heater. Consider cooking your food the night before so that you don’t heat your home up more than is necessary. You may want to pull out your crockpot for those must have warm meals. Look into serving salads and other types of cool foods on those hot days. This also helps you to feel cooler.

Close Your Curtains

Keep as much of the sun out of your home as possible. Thermal radiation may feel good during the winter, but it isn’t doing you any favors during the summer. Use those curtains to your advantage so that you don’t have to run your AC as much. Consider using sheer curtains to block the sunlight while not having your home feel dark and gloomy.

Install Ceiling Fans

Use or install ceiling fans in the most used rooms in your home. A ceiling fan uses a lot less electricity than your AC unit. This can help to circulate the cooler air in the room at a fraction of the energy usage. It will also help you to feel cooler even when your home is on the warmer side.

Being energy conscious while keeping your home cooler this summer means that you need to plan ahead. Control the temperature of your home using these tips.