Summer in Greater Cincinnati has already reached “sizzle” and it’s only June! Record hot and humid weather is predicted this summer which has energy-conscious Greater Cincinnati home and business owners thinking SMART.
SMART is the energy industry’s helpful way to remember its top five energy-saving summer tips. Using these tips to save energy in your home is guaranteed to take the sizzle out of summer and cool off your wallet too!
S – Set your A/C thermostat to the highest comfortable setting.
M – Move air in occupied rooms with ceiling fans.
A – Adjust your water heater to a lower temperature.
R – Repair “hot spots.”
T – Turn on the outdoor grill and take the heat out of the kitchen.
Air conditioners typically use more energy than any other appliance homes. Setting your A/C thermostat to 78 degrees maximizes energy savings. For every degree above 78 you set your thermostat, you’ll reduce air conditioning costs by 3% to 5%. Switching from a manual to a programmable thermostat saves you money too, as much as $180 a year.
The gentle breeze created by a ceiling fan can make your body feel several degrees cooler for a fraction of the cost it takes to power your air conditioner. If you don’t have ceiling fans, use floor fans to help circulate the air. To save energy, turn fans off when you leave the room.
Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. Decreasing hot water temperature from 140 to 120 degrees saves up to $85 in energy costs annually.
Do what you can to reduce any “hot spots” in your home by installing high-performance, energy-efficient windows and repairing window and door caulk.
Give the kitchen a break this summer. Outdoor cooking is a welcome change in the summer, and grilling outdoors doesn’t heat up the kitchen.
Thanks to Raymond PH&AC
Tags: home energy, home improvement, Mason, Plumber, plumbing, summer, tips
This entry was posted on Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 5:20 am under Industry News. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.