Summer is around the corner and so are high electricity bills. There is little you can do about the heat and the long hours the air conditioning runs. You have probably looked at ways to bring down the heat load to reduce the power consumed by the AC. But have you thought about what else you can do to bring down your utility bills this summer? Here are a few ideas to consider.

• The most basic power-saving tip is simply to ensure that everyone at home gets into the habit of turning off the lights when leaving a room.
• Leaving devices on standby for long hours means that they are still consuming electricity. Although the amount may be low, over time, the total power consumed adds up to a significant amount.
• If you haven’t done so already, replace all your old light bulbs with LEDs.
• Replace old appliances with newer energy-efficient ones. Washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators are among the highest energy consumers in a home. They are not cheap, but spend some time calculating to check if the power savings will balance out the cost of the new appliances. The results may surprise you.
• Another way to save power is by installing smart devices. These automated systems will turn themselves off when not in use, even if you forget to.

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Also Read: The Best In Daylight And Ventilation At Your Fingertips

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• Spend a little time looking for solar-powered alternatives to the plugged-in devices you are currently using. Over time, these will pay for themselves and after that, it's all savings. Some of them, like the daylighting systems next on this list, qualify for tax credits that make the price very attractive.
• One of the most effective ways of reducing your electricity consumption while at the same time brightening up your home and making it a healthier and happier place to live in is by installing tubular skylights. These devices use cutting-edge technology to bring sunlight into even the most interior parts of the home – places where electric lighting is used during the day. This will result in a drop in your electricity bills and it also has added benefits. If you go in for Solatube tubular skylights, you will have options like ventilation add-ons that will help keep the house fresh. There is a solar-powered night light option that collects solar energy during the day to power light from the same fitting at night. There is also a solar-powered dimmer that helps to regulate the entry of light during the day so that excess light and heat do not get into the house.

Installation of Solatube tubular skylights is quick, clean, and requires no structural modifications.  Those living in the San Francisco Bay Area only need to contact Sunlight Concepts, the Solatube premier dealer for the region to set up a free consultation. Once all the questions have been answered and the benefits known, making an informed purchase decision is easy. The benefits of tubular skylights are not limited to the summer months. These are devices that can be used year-round and which save money and brighten the home in all seasons.

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