8 Ways to Reduce your Energy Bills this Summer

Along with all the fun, exciting and relaxing things that come with summer, there is one not fun component- higher utility bills. During those months with brutal summer heat, especially in the south and west, your home’s energy costs tend to skyrocket.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. With a few simple adjustments, you can trim dollars off your bill and keep that money for a smarter investment. Like a solid, durable and long-lasting Cook Portable Warehouse perhaps?

Here are 8 tips to make your home more energy efficient and help ease your financial strain!

Set your air conditioner thermostat at a temperature that is comfortable and try to keep it there. A good recommendation is around 78 degrees while your family is home and around 85 degrees when you are away from the house. And remember you will save about 7 percent off your bill for every degree over 78 degrees.

Make the most of the air flow by keeping furniture and other items from blocking vents. It’s also good practice to have your central air conditioning unit checked seasonally and replace the filters monthly. Also, keep the unit out of the sun (ideally on a north facing wall). By completing these simple maintenance tasks, your machine will become instantly more efficient.

You want to keep your inside as cool as possible so try to minimize the amount of heat that gets trapped indoors from your appliances. Avoid turning on incandescent lighting and try to use your outdoor grill or smaller countertop appliances instead of your oven/stove whenever possible. If you do cook inside, use the exhaust fan over the store to get rid of hot air.

If you have to run large appliances like the washer, dryer or dishwasher, do it a night and let things air dry. Wash all clothes in cold water and remember to clean out the lint tray after every load. Try to avoid using these things from noon to 6 p.m. Take lukewarm showers or baths rather than hot ones to reduce the amount of humid air in the room.
Keep the blinds, shutters, drapes and windows closed during the day and open them in the evening. This doesn’t cost anything and will help keep your home cooler. Also, ceiling and window fans are relatively inexpensive and can help reduce the temperature in your home.
Unplug all appliances and electronics when they are not in use and especially when your family is out of the house for an extended period of time. Plug all home electronics into power strips so you can easily turn them off during downtimes.
Get rid of or deactivate extra freezers or refrigerators especially if they are stored outdoors or in your garage. You can even have your old refrigerator or freezer recycled and earn a cash incentive. Learn more from Energy Star by clicking here!

If you have a pool your summer energy bills are even higher. So consider slowly reducing the time of pool filtration time by 30 minute increments. Check the water daily to find the optimal setting. Also, you can turn the filter off at night and when the pool isn’t in use. You can also install a timer to control the length of time the pool pump cycle runs.

If you’re interested in reading more about Cook sheds and learning if our product is right for your storage needs, download our Building Buying Worksheet below!