It has taken awhile for the warm weather to really hit here in Oklahoma. The weather has been pretty mild which is unusual, but that is just fine with me. The unseasonably mild weather has helped our electric bill stay low.
We do a few things around our house to make certain that we’re being as energy efficient as possible. Making these changes not only keeps our energy costs down, but helps the environment as well. Most of the changes we’ve implemented are common sense tips and hints, but honestly I forget to do them sometimes until I’m reminded.
Change air filters – The air filters used for your heater and air conditioner make a difference in the quality of air that circulates in your house. Air filters should be changed every one to three months depending on the number of people and pets living in your house. Changing the air filter not only allows for a better quality of air, but allows your Heater and Air Conditioner to run more efficiently. Tip: If it’s difficult to remember when to change the air filter, change it on a monthly basis when you pay the electric or gas bill. We started using a filter by 3M that only needs to be changed every 3 months. Our home was built in 1998 and has multiple air filters in the duct returns.
Adjust ceiling fans – Ceiling fans are a great tool to use year round to save money. In the summer ceiling fans will need to go in a counter-clockwise direction in order to pull the air down from the ceiling which forces the cool air down. In the winter it will need to run in a clockwise direction on a low speed which forces the warm air down that circulates near the ceiling. My ceiling fan has a switch that allows me to change the direction of the blades. I’m not sure if older fans have this option or not.
Close the blinds – During the summer months close the blinds to windows where direct sunlight enters your home as this heats the room. I love my blinds to be open during the day because I like to look out, but if it saves me more money I’ll keep them closed and just go outside to get my view.
Use CFLs – Not only do Compact Fluorescent Light-bulbs (CFLs) conserve energy which costs you less money in the long run, they also produce less heat than an incandescent bulb which will help reduce your cooling costs.
For those in southern or western “hot” states, install solar screens. We installed solar screens last winter in somewhat of a copycat move. We noticed last fall when we moved into our new house that it was exceptionally warm – in October. I noticed when I was walking down the street with our son that many of our neighbors had dark screens on their westward windows. We spent $550.00 to have solar screens installed on a large bank of windows on the west side of our home. These have already made a huge difference as the days have gotten warmer. Solar screens block 70%-80% of of ultraviolet rays to keep your home cool.
Here are a few links to sites about energy savings: