Tips from Safe Haven on How to Save Money by Lowering Energy

 

Summer energy bills can be an unwelcome source of bad news. Most people crank up the A/C in the summer months, leading to an expected three percent increase in the cost to cool it. However, the bills don’t have to go up. Here are summer cooling tips to keep the energy costs low!

 

Start with some simple HVAC maintenance.

For all the DIYers out there, you can start by changing the filter. A clean filter with allow for less resistance to airflow. Secondly, the drain should be cleaned annually. A maintenance person’s expertise may be useful to look at external air conditioning each year.

 

Vented garage doors can help release heat buildup.

With the ADT Pulse app, you can open and shut your garage doors and get live coverage of them remotely. You can partially roll up your garage doors during the day and keep an eye on them even if you are away.

Keep the lights off and the temperature down when you’re not home.

There is no need to cool down an empty house! When you leave for work, turn off or lower the A/C. With the touch of a button on the ADT Pulse app, you can control the temperature. For every degree you set your thermostat above 80 degrees, you can save around 2 to 3 percent on cooling costs. You can also turn off all the lights from your phone when you’re away.

 

Additionally, draw the blinds more often.

A greenhouse effect is created when they’re left open, causing light to enter and be trapped in without escape. This will cause the room to slowly heat up throughout the day, and in turn causing the A/C to work even harder. If no one is home or in the room, close the curtains.

There are also little changes that can add up to a big difference. Take short showers instead of baths, wash your clothes in the morning or evening and don’t preheat your oven longer than necessary. Wash clothes in cold water. Around 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes goes to heating the water.

 

Keep your family on the same page to fully integrate these summer tips. Take full advantage of your security system and monitor the kids at home to make sure they’re keeping lights off and doors closed. Start saving and never be afraid to open a utility bill again!