Don't Let Rising Temps Take a Toll on Your Energy Bill

As we strive to maintain comfortable conditions within our homes during the dog days of summer, energy costs can soar right along with midsummer temperatures. Here are some strategies for keeping your home cool while avoiding sticker shock on your next utility bill, courtesy of Virginia-based Southern Trust Home Services.

Put fans to work. To help keep your home at a comfortable temperature, install ceiling fans or place box fans in strategic areas. While fans don't actually cool the air, they do assist air conditioning units by moving colder air around. Fans also help dry humid air, which can hold heat.
Upgrade or tune-up the air conditioner. Air conditioning units need to be properly maintained in order to work efficiently, so be sure to have your system tuned up on a yearly basis. If your AC unit is more than 15 years old, consider upgrading to a newer system that has a high Energy Star Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating.
Add low-flow water fixtures. Since water use increases in the summer, homeowners can find more savings by adding low-flow fixtures to their showerheads, toilets and outdoor sprinklers. Only water your garden first thing in the morning or late in the evening so that the afternoon sun doesn't evaporate the water before it gets to a plant's roots.
Close the blinds and seal things up. Keeping blinds closed during the middle of the day blocks the heat of the afternoon sun, which means air conditioners don't have to work so hard. Adding weather stripping to doors and windows can also keep cool air from leaking out of the home.
Turn up the thermostat. Raising the thermostat by a few degrees can save hundreds of dollars each summer. Coupled with adding ceiling and box fans, homeowners can save money while still moving cool air throughout the home.
Cook outdoors or later at night. Instead of firing up the stove for your evening meal, keep the heat outside by grilling dinner on your deck or patio. Families can also opt for cooking meals in slow cookers all day or by waiting until the sun goes down to turn on the oven.

You can also stay cool on sweltering days by wearing light clothing around the house and drinking plenty of water. Keep lights off or dimmed as much as possible, and save any taxing home projects for cooler days.