With summer comes a blast of fun new things to do, but also the scorching heat that watches your energy costs rise. While you’re taking refuge from the blazing sun or trying to cool down after all those fun outdoor activities, check out these 6 energy saving hacks for summer that’ll have you conserving like a pro.
Super-Stock That Freezer
When you open that door, you’re letting out hours of built-up cold in seconds, which makes the machine work harder to return the temperatures to normal. However, if you keep your freezer well-stocked, those items will hold the cold and make it work less. If you lack food or drinks, simple put water bottles or even newspaper in there.
Get a Clothes Line – or Rack
Dryers take an incredible amount of power, and even the best-made ones still pump heat into the room – making your AC work harder. To keep them from racking up your electricity bills in the summer, get a clothes line for your yard or (in the case of apartments) invest in a cheap clothing rack to let your items air dry. Plus, this energy saving hack leaves your clothes with a nice sunbathed smell!
Shut Off Your Power Strips
Power strips are the best invention since sliced bread, but they could be draining a considerable amount of energy without your knowledge. When you have several devices plugged in, even if they’re all manually shut off, they’re draining a certain amount of power. By flipping off your strip entirely, you’re cutting the draw and saving energy in the little ways. If you have a mix-match of things plugged into one bar, some of which need to be left on at all times, it’s worth investing in two bars – one for special occasions, and one for constant use.
Adjust Your Ceiling Fan Setting – and Turn it Up
You may or may not know this, but there’s a switch on the side of your ceiling fan. This determines which way the blades spin, and since the blades are angled to drive air in a certain way, reversing the direction will determine whether air is blown up or down. In the winter, having it push the heat – which naturally rises – down will keep your home warmer. Switching it to push the heat up will keep you cooler in the summer. Then, once you’ve made the adjustment, turn your fan to its highest setting. Moving air is always cooler than stagnated air, and ceiling fans require much less energy than AC units to keep your home comfortable.
Get Some Trees – or Potted Plants
Natural shade is an excellent way to cool your home, so plant some tall and thick trees around your house to enjoy a natural – and beautiful – energy saver. If you have an apartment, or don’t want to wait years for the things to grow – get some potted plants for around your living room and bedrooms. Green has a natural cooling affect and will absorb heat, while producing oxygen. The air will feel fresher and colder.
Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
Sure, you’ll want to be careful with certain clothes that shouldn’t be washed in cold water – but according to recent studies, 90% of the energy your washing machine burns is in the process of warming the water for your clothes. Switch the machine to cold water and watch your bill drop.
At MightyServ, we understand the importance of energy efficiency for both our customers’ finances and environment. This is why we strive to provide solutions, like these energy saving hacks, for improving both with helpful blogs like this. If we have helped you in the past with our services, we would love to hear from you in our reviews section. For readers that are new to the site, take some time to look around at the different services that you are interested in, spend some time on our Facebook and Twitter to get to know us, and when you feel comfortable, contact our LA office to schedule an appointmentwith one of our friendly and knowledgeable experts.