Cooperative Living May 2022 - 26

ENERGY SENSE
Add curtains that you can pull shut
during the hottest times of the day.
Turn off your gas fireplace pilot light
in the summer to reduce heat.
Save energy by keeping
your thermostat at
the highest comfortable
temperature.
Cook outdoors to keep
your home cooler.
Q:
1
10 Ideas for Summer Energy Savings
Trim your monthly bill with these timely tips
A:
by Miranda Boutelle, Contributing Columnist
What steps can I take this summer to
keep my home cool while saving on my
energy bills?
Service your cooling unit
Air-conditioning units work by
moving air ove fi ns or coils that contain
refrigerant. When the coils or fins get
dirty, the unit doesn't work as well and
uses more energy.
Whether you have a portable or
central unit, or a ductless/mini-split,
get your system ready for summer
by cleaning the filter, coils and fins.
If you are tackling this yourself, always
disconnect power to the unit.
Central systems have two sets of
coils: one inside and one outside.
Both should be cleaned annually.
A professional can check refrigerant
levels during the process.
Seal your window unit
2
If you have a window or portable
air-conditioning unit that vents through
a window, seal the area between the
window sashes. Water heater pipe
insulation is a great way to seal this
spot. It's available at your local hardware
store and is easy to cut for a snug fit.
3 Thermostat settings
Keeping your thermostat at the
highest comfortable temperature will
save you money. If you aren't home
during the day, increase your thermostat
a few degrees. There's no need to cool
an empty house.
24 ● Cooperative Living ●
May 2022
4 Keep your cool
Before heading to the thermostat,
turn on a fan in the room you're in,
change into lighter clothing and drink
something cool. This may be enough
to make you comfortable without
spending more to cool your home.
5 Lock windows
After opening your windows at
night or in the morning to let in fresh
air, ensure your windows are closed and
locked. This reduces gaps that allow
air to fl w through and cause drafts.
If your locks don't form a tight fit,
add weatherstripping.
6 Weatherstripping and curtains
Covering and sealing windows
may seem like a wintertime efficiency
practice, yet these help in the summer,
too. Windows are typically the leastinsulated
surface in a room. Add
weatherstripping to form a tight seal
and curtains you can close during the
hottest times of the day to block
out the sun.
7 Cooking change
Keep your home cool or your air
conditioning from working overtime
by cooking outside. My grill has an
extra burner on the side that lets me
do stovetop cooking outside, too.
8 Add insulation
Even in the summer, adding
insulation can keep your home more
comfortable and save energy used by
your air-conditioning system. As a
general rule, if you can see the joists
in the floor of your attic, you need
more insulation.
9 Turn off gas fireplaces
Reducing the amount of heat
entering your home can keep it cooler.
If you have a ga fi replace, your pilot
light lets off a small amount of heat
into the room. Consider turning it ff
during summer months.
10 Add shade outside
Several years ago, we planted a hedge
on the south side of our home. I was
surprised by how much cooler it made
the house in the summertime. Planting
trees and shrubs strategically around
your home can shade the roof, walls and
pavement, reducing heat radiation to
your home. Check with your city or
utility about free tree programs.
Applying a few of these ideas to your
home will help keep you comfortable
and provide summer energy savings. 
Miranda Boutelle writes about energyefficiency
topics for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
co-opliving.com
A hot home and high energy bills can take away from
summer fun. Here are 10 tips to prepare your home for
summer temperatures.
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living May 2022

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