Staying Cool: 10 ways to use summer heat to save energy

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

The thermostat is climbing, and all you want to do is crank the air conditioning and hide until the temperature finally drops again.

But this summer, don’t let the heat work against you. Take advantage of the sizzling weather and find new ways to save energy even as it gets hotter.

1. Seek swimming holes

Turn off your AC, lather on some sunscreen and visit your neighborhood pool or a nearby lake or beach. Finding somewhere else to cool off can save energy and money and be fun at the same time.

2. Air-dry your laundry

Home appliances are a major factor in the energy consumption of homes, but summer weather gives you an opportunity to use them less. After you finish washing a load of laundry, take it outside instead of dropping it in the dryer. Hot summer air can dry your clothes just as well as an electric appliance.

3. Grill out
 

It’ll be hard not to turn up the air conditioning if you cook on the stove during the summer. Luckily, summer is grilling season and you can avoid filling your house with excess heat. Grill outside and enjoy the day as the heat morphs into a mild evening.

4. Upgrade and weatherproof

If you don’t feel like you’re getting the most out of your air conditioning, it might be time to make some investments in your home. Some modifications are as simple as changing your AC unit’s air filters. A slightly more expensive but worthwhile investment is to weather strip your home so that cold air (and heat in the winter) is not escaping through the cracks.

5. Buy a reusable water bottle

It seems too simple to matter, but a reusable water bottle will keep you hydrated at the height of the season. A good metal bottle is better for the environment and will ensure that you always have water by your side.

6. Make use of fans

A ceiling fan will cool the room by circulating air, but it will use considerably less energy than air conditioning. A whole-house fan is a worthwhile investment that uses a fraction of the energy used by a central air conditioner.

7. Properly shade your home

Sunlight will warm your home and make your air conditioning work harder. But awnings, blinds and reflective films on windows will reduce the effect of the sun on indoor temperature. If you have an AC wall unit, it will run better if it’s shaded.

8. Use CFL bulbs

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, CFL bulbs give off 75 percent less heat than incandescent bulbs, use 75 percent less energy and last six to 12 times longer. You now can purchase these bulbs in many different sizes and shapes to fit almost any light fixture.

9. Use less hot water

The humidity from a scalding hot shower will only make a hot house worse. A lukewarm shower will keep the steam from warming your whole house and will save water, as you won’t have to run the faucet waiting for the water to heat up. You also can increase the amount of water you save by installing low-flow showerheads.

10. Landscape wisely

You can’t always count on rain, so when you do get some precipitation, use a rain barrel to collect it. Then, when your yard or garden dries out, you don’t have to rely on the spigot.