1. Plants can provide much needed shade
You may have experienced the phenomenon of walking into the shade on a hot summer day and instantly feeling a significant difference in temperature. Now imagine if your house could be in the shade during the hottest hours of the day! Planting shrubs and trees on the south and west sides of your house, or at least over your outdoor A/C unit, can make your cooling systems up to 10 percent more efficient.
2. Lower your water heating costs
Water heating accounts for about 18 percent of the energy consumed in your home. Lowering the temperature of your water heater can help save energy, and who needs a scalding hot shower in the summer anyway? Laundry, another water-hog, can also be optimized in the summer. Make sure you maximize your loads – this not only gets you more for your money, but also helps you do laundry less often. Doing laundry with cold water and hang drying are other ways to save even more on your energy bills.
3. Use electricity during off-peak hours
The time of day you use electricity is also very important when it comes to saving money on your energy bills. Energy companies charge more during “peak” hours – hours of the day when demand is the highest. By scheduling your energy use to “off peak” hours – early morning or late at night – you can help reduce load on the grid and lower your monthly energy bill. On particularly hot days (over 90 degrees Fahrenheit), it is recommended you wait until after 6:00 p.m. to cook, do laundry, or wash dishes.
4. Close doors & vents
If you’re at home, closing doors and A/C vents in rooms that are not in use can help make your cooling system more efficient. By not wasting energy cooling rooms that no one is in, it takes less energy (and money!) to keep you comfortable.
5. Use your windows to cool at night & keep out heat during the day
If you live in a climate where it cools off at night, turning off your cooling system and opening the windows to let cool air in (and hot air out!) is a great way to save energy and lower your energy bill. During the day, keeping blinds drawn and windows closed can help keep the pesky heat from warming up your interior space, and making your cooling systems work harder to keep the space comfortable.