Beat the heat without breaking the bank. As summer heat prompts blasting A/Cs, busy pool pumps, and whirring fans, here are some tips from WattzOn, the site that helps you save money by going green:
If you don’t have AC:
- Use a fan while you’re in a room to cool yourself. Don’t use the fan while you’re not in the room as it just pushes air around and wastes energy.
- The best fan to use depends on the size of the space needing to be cooled. Smaller fans use less energy but do not cool large spaces as well as ceiling fans.
- Portable fans are most effective when placed in a window to blow cool air into the house either late at night or early in the morning.
If you do have AC:
- Only use the air conditioner while you are home. Make sure the registers are not blocked and close the registers in rooms that are unused.
- Use a thermostat and adjust the settings to the air conditioner comes on at a warmer temperature.
Other tips:
- Install outdoor shades, blinds or awnings and use indoor shades and blinds
- Plant a shade tree
- Turn off unused electronics and lights as these can be hot while they are on
- Avoid using incandescent bulbs
- Try using the stove or microwave instead of the oven. Use the kitchen/stove fan while cooking
- If your home has little or no insulation, installing insulation will provide noticeable savings and improved comfort. In general, if you are standing next to a well-insulated wall, it will be comfortable. If the wall is cold in the winter and hot in the summer, it does not have enough insulation. A professional energy assessment can help you determine the status of your insulation and provide specific recommendations for your home and climate.
Interested in hearing more? For personalized recommendations on how to reduce your energy costs, visit www.wattzon.com.
Thank you, Steven Ashby, Co-Founder & Chief Product and Marketing Officer of WattzOn!
