Working to reduce energy consumption in one’s home each summer not only helps the planet, but it can also reduce the amount of money you spend on utility bills. Although installing solar panels on your home is potentially the best step you can take to reduce your home’s energy consumption, there are plenty of other energy-efficient tips you can take to reduce your home’s energy consumption drastically.
1. Energy Efficient Tips for Windows: Close Blinds, Curtains, and Shutters When Possible
Although it is wonderful to get plentiful natural light through your home’s windows in the summer, this can have a significant impact on your energy use and utility bills when using the air conditioner. Windows let tons of heat and sunlight in, raising the temperature of your entire home and forcing your air conditioner to work extra hard to cool it back down.
If you already have blinds, curtains, and/or shutters installed, closing these during the hottest part of the day can drastically reduce the amount of energy used to cool your home. External shutters tend to do the best job at keeping heat out, as they prevent heat and sunlight from even touching the windows, though blinds and curtains can help too.
2. Wash Laundry in Cold Water
Washing laundry in hot or warm water requires a significant amount of energy, and warmer water doesn’t necessarily help clothes get cleaner as many people think. In fact, hot water can actually make stains like blood and sweat set into fabric more! Plus, many fabrics shrink or fade when washed repeatedly in hot water. Most laundry items will do just fine in cold water but refer to the label when in doubt.
3. Avoid Opening the Oven Door
It may seem perfectly harmless to open the oven door when cooking or baking, but each time the oven door is opened, about 25% of the heat escapes. This prompts your oven to use even more power to get back up to the proper temperature, and it can lead to uneven cooking or baking.
4. Run Ceiling Fans With the Air Conditioner
If your home has ceiling fans, it may seem wasteful to run your fans while your air conditioner is on. Interestingly, ceiling fans can actually make a room feel around four degrees cooler and costs much less to run than your air conditioner alone. As a result, you can set your thermostat to a few degrees higher and use ceiling fans in conjunction with the air for an overall more efficient cooling system.
Bonus: Install Solar Panels With a Battery System
Once you see how easy it is to live a more energy-efficient lifestyle, many people decide that they want to supplement these habits with a solar panel system and home battery setup. Installing solar panels on your home may be one of the best energy-efficient tips available to reduce your carbon footprint and save on utility bills
Stay Cool, Stay Green
You can still keep cool this summer without accumulating a massive energy bill. Contact Solar Optimum today and one of our Energy Coordinators will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Or, you can download our free guide below to learn more about the solar lifestyle.
