Summer is a time when the need to cool a home pushes up energy usage. Besides the obvious downside of increased utility bills, the family’s carbon footprint gets bigger. Saving energy in summer makes sense in more ways than one. The U.S. Department of Energy has some good advice on how to do it.

1. Install window treatments and coverings to keep the heat out. The reduced heat load indoors will cut air conditioning costs.

2. Use your thermostat wisely. 

• Keep the interior comfortable without overcooling it. The less the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperature, the lower the energy used.

• Install a programmable thermostat that allows you to keep the house warm when it is empty and cool when it is occupied.

• When you come into a warm house, do not set the thermostat at a very cold temperature. It will not cool the house any faster but will increase electricity consumption.

3. Use fans and ventilation strategies. 

• Turn off ceiling fans when a room is empty. Fans cool people by air movement, they do not cool rooms.

• Install a whole house fan. It will keep the home cool and ventilated and reduce the need for power-hungry air conditioning.

• After a bath, use the bathroom fan to blow out heat and humidity from the interior. 

• If your laundry room gets hot and humid, install a ventilation fan there.

4. Maintain your cooling system.

• Get your air conditioning equipment serviced regularly.

• Use the air conditioner’s users’ manual to get tips on how to use it as efficiently as possible.

• Do not place lamps or other heat-generating devices near the thermostat as they will cause the thermostat to register a temperature that is higher than the actual indoor temperature.

5. Avoid electric lighting during the day.

• Turn off electric lights when a room is empty.

• Use daylighting systems to bring in natural light without increasing the indoor heat load.

6. Keep hot air out of your home.

• Seal cracks and openings to keep the cool indoor air from leaking out.

• Windows are a major source of air leakage. Use weather stripping or caulk to seal any air leaks around them.

7. Control water use.

• Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads so that the power used does the maximum cleaning.

• Reduce the water heater setting. A bath in winter and a bath in summer need different water temperatures. Lowering the water temperature in summer will save electricity.

A great way to start on your energy saving this summer is by installing a whole house fan in your home. It will blow out the hot, humid and stale air from the interior and replace it with cool, fresh air drawn in from the outside. This will reduce the need for air conditioning and save you a significant amount of electricity. The energy saving will be immediately reflected in your utility bills. It is a cost-effective way to reduce energy costs. Contact a whole house dealer for a free consultation to find out more and have your questions answered.