For most homeowners, finding ways to reduce your monthly bills is a priority. Monthly energy bills are usually one of the biggest expenses you will have as a homeowner. During the summer months, this bill can get out of control if you are running your air conditioner all day long.
Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to keep your home energy costs manageable regardless of how hot it is outside. The following are just some of the things you can do to keep your home cool and comfortable without cranking up the air conditioner.
- Close Your Blinds
Did you realize that nearly 30% of the unwanted heat in a home comes from the windows? This is why utilizing the power of your window blinds is a must. By closing your blinds or curtains during daytime, you will be able to reduce your monthly energy bill by nearly seven percent.
Keeping curtains and blinds closed can also help reduce the temperature in your home by nearly 20 degrees. If you have a number of south and west facing windows in your home, then covering them with blinds and curtains is a must. While new shades and curtains will cost money, the amount you invest will pale in comparison to the astronomical energy bills you will receive without these window coverings in place.
- You Have Doors, So Use Them!
Closing off some of the unused rooms in your home can also help you to reduce the strain put on your HVAC unit during the hotter parts of the day. During the nighttime hours, be sure to open back up these doors so the cool air can make its way through every part of your home.
Are you worried about air circulation in these unused portions of your home? Investing in a small camping tent fan is a great way to keep the air flowing in these rooms with minimal energy. If you venture into these rooms during the day, you will be able to cool off with the best tent fan on the market.
- Create a Cool Breeze With This Hack
Instead of cranking up your air conditioner on sweltering days, you can create a cool breeze with a bowl of ice. By filling a bowl with ice and putting it in front of a large fan in your home, you will be able to create a chilly breeze with ease. Once the ice melts, all you have to do is refill it to restore your breeze. How simple is that?
- Swap Out Your Sheets
Most people swap out their bedding to freshen up a room, but this can also help you keep cool as well. While having flannel and fleece blankets on a bed during the colder parts of the year is a good thing, this type of bedding can make summer nights nearly unbearable. Finding bedding materials made out of breathable fabrics like cotton or silk is essential.
When investing in new bedding, don’t forget to buy a buckwheat pillow or two. The hulls of buckwheat in these pillows will not hold your body heat like conventional pillows, which makes them a must-have for the summer months.
- Set Your Fans to Run Counter-Clockwise
Most homeowners fail to realize that their ceiling fans need to be adjusted seasonally. By running fans counterclockwise during the summer, you will be able to create a good breeze. This breeze will allow you to keep your home cooler without using a lot of energy in the process. Alternative: Get an air cooler for rent, these are typically powered by water and can help similar to a fan.
- Focus on Your Body Temperature
Do you ever wonder how people survived hot summers without air conditioning? In the good old days, before central air conditioning systems were common, people would focus on their body’s temperature to stay cool. Doing things like consuming ice-cold beverages and keeping a cold cloth handy to put on your head and neck is a great way to keep your body cool.
Doing other things like being smart about the type of clothing you wear is also essential. Wearing clothing made from restricting fabrics that don’t breathe very well will only increase your discomfort during the hotter months of the year.
- Keep Your Bathroom and Kitchen Fans On
If you are trying to get rid of excess heat in your home, then turning on your bathroom and kitchen fans is a fantastic idea. These fans are designed to pull out the hot air that rises in your home. Failing to turn on the kitchen fan while cooking during the summer months can lead to sweltering temperatures. These fans use very little energy and can make a big difference when it comes to removing heat in your residence.
- Work on Heat-Proofing Your Bed
Working on heat-proofing your bed is essential when trying to beat the heat this summer. Do your feet stay hot while in bed? Putting a frozen water bottle near them at night can remedy this issue. There are also a number of inventions on the market, like the Chillow, that are designed to provide comfort and cooling.
- Let the Night Air In
In most areas, the temperatures at night drop during the summer months. Opening up your windows and letting the night air circulate through your bedroom can offer some welcomed relief from the heat. You can even create your own window tunnel by strategically placing fans in the windows at night.
- Get Rid of Incandescent Bulbs
Incandescent bulbs are known to waste nearly 90% of their energy in the heat they emit. Having a lot of these types of bulbs in your home will only raise your home’s internal temperature. Making the switch to a compact fluorescent lamp can reduce the amount of heat your lighting puts off.
Having your HVAC unit properly maintained is also a great way to reduce the amount of energy you use during the summer. With the right professional help, getting this type of work done will be a breeze.