10 energy tips for summer savings

1. Plant summer-friendly flora and fauna.

Landscaping your home with the summer months in mind can help reduce indoor electricity costs. Plant shrubs and trees in front of south-facing windows to save on A/C costs and keep your home cool from the outside, in.

2. Set your thermostat.

If the kids are at summer camp and you’re busy at work, there’s no need to cool an empty home. For every degree you set your thermostat above 78, you could save up to 8 percent on your monthly bill. Also, consider installing a programmable thermostat for savings of up to $150 per year.

3. Switch your ceiling fan’s blade rotation.

Your thermostat shouldn’t have to do all the heavy lifting! If you switched your ceiling fan’s rotation for winter, be sure to reverse it for warmer weather. In the summer months, your ceiling fan blades should rotate counterclockwise to push cool air down.

4. Keep A/C vents clear.

Don’t make your air conditioning unit work harder than it has to – keep furniture and rugs off of your floor vents to keep them running properly. A/C vents in walls and ceilings should be dusted, cleaned, and checked by a professional as well.

5. Turn your water heater down.

Most water heaters are set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which not only is unnecessarily high but is also making your home hotter. Turning the temperature down to 120 degrees could save you 10 percent on your energy bills.

6. Use appliances at night.

Running appliances during the day will only make your home hotter. If possible, use heat-generating appliances such as the dryer, washing machine and dishwasher later in the evening. Kick your savings up a notch by washing your clothes in cold water and air-drying them over night.

7. Cook outside.

Stoves and ovens can seriously heat up your home, and running the kitchen fan only adds to your energy usage. Instead, take advantage of sunny skies by cooking and grilling outside; fresh air, delicious food and indoor energy savings? It’s a no-brainer!

8. Keep the sun out.

South-facing windows get the most sun during summer months, so make sure the blinds are closed during the day to keep the heat out. Black-out curtains and white window hangings will also help by reflecting the sunshine back outside.

9. Upgrade your lightbulbs.

If you haven’t upgraded to LED bulbs yet, summer is the perfect time to do so. Traditional lightbulbs give off 90 percent of their energy as heat, which could be making your home even hotter during the summer. LEDs, on the other hand, use 75 percent less energy and last nearly 50 times longer.

10. Seal cool air inside.

Check around your windows and doors to make sure none of that precious A/C is leaking outside. If you’re looking to upgrade, double-paned windows are a great investment for both hot and cold seasons – they can reduce your home’s air loss by up to 50 percent.

Bonus Tip: If you live in Texas, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York or another deregulated energy state, you could save big on your monthly bills by switching to a competitive retail energy supplier. Rates tend to go up during the summer months, so lock in a low rate from Choose Energy today! Enter your ZIP code above to start shopping.