ACKK!!! I opened my utility bill and just about had a heart
attack. You would think after all of these years of living in the desert it
wouldn’t cause such palpitations, but even knowing that my bill will soar in
direct proportion to the temperature, I still go through a moment of shock each
summer. So this year I decided to implement some of those great tips that you
see each summer. Here is a list of
energy saving tips that I found pretty practical. (taken from https://www.pacificpower.net/res/sem/het/tsest.html)
1. Set
your air conditioner thermostat as high as comfortable – we recommend 78ºF
or higher when you’re at home, and 85ºF when you’re gone. Keep inside
air vents clear from furniture and other objects.
2. Have
your central air conditioner tuned up and clean or replace filters monthly
for more efficient operation.
3. Minimize
indoor heat: run the dryer and dishwasher at night on hot days
and let your dishes air dry. Avoid heat-generating incandescent lighting and
use a microwave, toaster oven or outdoor grill instead of the oven. It's best
to avoid the use of major appliances between 2 and 8 p.m.
4. Set
your water heater to 120ºF.
5. Keep
the blinds and windows closed during the day and open at night. This
is a no-cost way to keep your home a little cooler.
6. Window,
ceiling and whole-house fans are also low-cost ways to keep
your home a little cooler.
7. Wash
clothes in cold water and clean the lint filter in the dryer after every use.
8. Eliminate,
or deactivate, extra freezers or refrigerators if
you can, especially if they spend the summer outdoors or in a garage. Better
yet, have your old refrigerator or freezer picked up for proper recycling and
earn a cash incentive.
9. Unplug
appliances and electronics when not in use. Plug home electronics,
such as TVs, DVD players and computers into power strips and turn off the power
strips when the equipment is not in use.
10. If you
have a pool: consider slowly reducing pool filtration time by 30
minute increments daily. Keep on reducing the time as long as the water appears
clean. You may find you only need to run your pool filter six hours a day.
Install a timer to control the length of time that the pool pump cycles on.
The only tip I have to modify is #5. Here in our HOT, HOT
DESERT, we rarely get the luxury of opening the windows at night, at least not
in the full heat of the summer. I walked out at 4:45 a.m. last week and met a
wall of hot air---the price we pay for fantastic spring, winter, and fall
seasons.
Contact us to help you find the home that you want to spend the dog days of summer in. (Maybe one with a pool :) )
Chris at 435-313-3966
or
www.whystgeorge.com
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