How to Keep Your Home Cool This August

How to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

It is commonly known that during the summer months, your energy bill will be higher due to the increased use of air conditioning. It is hard to avoid this spike in cost, especially if you live where temperatures rise to over 90 degrees daily. Unfortunately, we do not have the magic solution to a zero increase in energy bills in the summer, but we do have some tips on how to keep your bills lower while keeping your home as cool as possible.

Tips for Keeping Your House Cool Without AC

If using air conditioning is not in the budget, here are some ways to help keep your home cool without an air conditioning unit:

• Unplug everything you are not using

  When you plug something into an electric socket, it produces heat. Make sure to unplug all unnecessary appliances when you are not using them to reduce the amount of heat produced.

• Use efficiency lighting

  Use energy-efficient light bulbs such as LEDs to reduce the amount of heat that is being released. A traditional lightbulb can increase heat by 11 degrees in a small room, while energy-efficient bulbs aim to reduce the level of heat given off.

• Cook outdoors

  During the warm months, always cook outside or reduce the amount of cooking you do inside your kitchen. A stove or oven creates internal heat and can put a strain on your air conditioner. If you have to cook inside, do it in the morning or after the day's heat. A stove or oven creates internal heat and can put a strain on your air conditioner.

• Keep your blinds closed

  Keeping your blinds closed throughout the day can lower the temperature of a room by up to 15 degrees.

• Install better insulation

  Insulation can help keep your home cool in extreme heat and will also keep your home warm in the cold months.

Cost-Effective Ways to Use Air Conditioning During The Summer

No matter where you live, here are some tips to cool your home without breaking your monthly budget:

• Buy air-conditioning window units with an Energy Star rating

  Energy Star-rated air conditioners are, on average, 15 percent more efficient than other units. Only buy new units that are marked with an energy star sticker.

• Turn up the thermostat

  Try keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees to save energy while maintaining a comfortable temperature. Every degree above 78 will save you about 2 percent on your bill, while every degree lower than 78 will cost you about 6 percent more each month.

• Use ceiling fans to move the air

  Fans are a cheaper air source than air conditioners and can be used as a replacement to save money. If you have ceiling fans, run them at the same time as the AC to push the cooler air down and into the designated space. Also, make sure your ceiling fans are turning counter-clockwise to push the air down, not up.

• Don't let the sunshine in

  Install window coverings in your home to keep out the heat while still letting some natural light inside. This will help you cut down on cooling costs.

• Turn off the lights

  This common energy-efficient rule applies heavily in the summertime. When you leave a room, turn the lights off to keep the room cool.