Cool Your Home with Energy-saving Ideas

Cool your home and save energy during these hot summer months. Just a few changes can save you money and conserve energy for a better planet.

Make sure you have programmable thermostats in your home. This allows you to control the temperature of your home when at home and when not.

Take care of your laundry in the late afternoon or at night. You’ll notice a difference in your utility bill and you’ll keep your house cooler by not running your dryer during the hottest time of the day.

Keep those blinds shut! By keeping your blinds and/or drapes closed during the day, you’ll keep the temperature of the room down and your AC unit won’t work as hard.

Install window coverings like Venetian blinds or drapes on bare windows to help keep the temperature down in the room.

Change your air filters twice a year. This keeps your cooling unit happy and working efficiently. Check your filters every 45 days to make sure your AC/heating unit is nice and clean.

Use a solar powered window-mount fan to cool down a room instead of blasting the air conditioner! A solar-powered attic fan from Sears will also keep your entire house cooler.

Light candles instead of turning on the lights during summer dinner parties. Why not set the perfect ambiance and save energy at the same time?

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs or LED bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.

Lighten Up

Feel like doing a quick re-decorating job this month? Try using lighter colors and cooler fabrics such as whites, creams and blues in cotton or linen fabrics. They’re especially pleasing in big vast spaces that have more natural light. Lighter colors will help reflect the light in the room and cooler fabrics will feel more comfortable in the hotter months. Keep your window treatments light in color and texture as well.