Want to Save Money This Summer? Start at Home!
This summer, you can expect to see your utility bills climb. It happens every year when the temperatures start to sizzle. Nearly everyone cranks their air conditioners and takes long, icy showers to cool down.
However, your utility bills might take up a larger portion of your paycheck this time around thanks to the lingering effects of the pandemic. Permanent work-from-home orders help you maintain a better work-life balance, but they mean staying at home more often — flushing toilets, running appliances, and using power.
A sudden, unexpected spike in your rates is one thing. You can pull from your savings to cover this surprise increase, or you can get cash online to help in an emergency. With a bit of research, you can find where to get cash loans online that help you cover unexpected emergency expenses.
Going online for cash loans might be an option for a one-time spike that comes out of nowhere, but what about bills that remain high every month? Borrowing cash loans online all the time isn’t advisable, so you have to figure out how you can reduce your energy bills.
Here are some ideas:
Watch the Clock When You Clean
A huge spike can happen when you run power-hungry appliances at peak times. Check with your utility provider to find out when they charge the highest prices. Delaying your chores until off-peak periods could reduce how much the oven, washer and dryer, or dishwasher costs to run.
Set Your A/C Higher
While it may be tempting to turn your home into an icebox in retaliation to the summer heat, this is a quick way to burn through your money. Try setting your air conditioner as high as you can tolerate. According to the Department of Energy, you could save one percent of your heating costs by turning your thermostat one degree higher for eight hours.
Use Zero-Energy Air Con
If you’re willing to do a small craft, there’s a chance you could turn your A/C off for the entire season. Bangladeshi scientists have created the Eco-Cooler, a contraption you can make at home to cool the air without electricity.
All you’ll need is a sturdy board cut to the size of your window and plenty of two-liter plastic bottles. It relies on the Venturi effect to cool the hot air flowing from the outside as it moves through the bottles before reaching your home. Check out this article for more thorough instructions.
Wash in Cold Water
Many of us believe that scalding water is necessary to clean clothes and bedding, but that’s simply not the case anymore. Modern washing machines and detergents tackle life’s biggest messes with cold water. Making this simple switch could wind up saving you as much as $5 a month!
Turn Down the Heat
Reducing your hot water consumption promises savings beyond the laundry room. If you can, find your water heater and check its default temperature. Most manufacturers and technicians recommend setting this appliance to 140°F. However, lowering your heater’s temperature to 120°F is just as safe, yet it could save up to 10 percent on your water heating costs.
Finding energy savings doesn’t have to be complicated — it could be as simple as fiddling with your thermostat and water heater gauge. So, try these tips to see how you can lower your energy usage and save more money this summer.
