Take the heat off your summer budget

We all know heat can drain your energy. But it also drains your budget. Hotter temperatures mean the AC has to work harder and fans stay on longer (if not 24/7), which means energy bills go up faster than the thermometer. 

While it’s important to stay safe and comfortable (and hydrated) during summer, the last thing you want to do is spend a fortune on energy costs. Here are some tips for staying cool this summer without roasting your budget. 

Unplug as much as possible 

When it’s too hot to go outside, a lot of us turn to our TVs, computers or video game systems for entertainment. But electronics generate a lot of heat, even in standby mode. If you’re willing to forego the screen time, unplugging as many of your devices as possible can help keep the energy bills down. For maximum savings, put them on a power strip you can click off when not in use.  

Special mention: The Big Light. A lot of us have large overhead lights in our living spaces. These lights tend to generate more heat than most of us realize. This summer, save yourself a couple bucks and use natural light or lamps to illuminate the way. Just remember, the brighter the light, the higher the wattage, the more heat being generated. 

Make the most of your thermostat 

You can also save energy simply by operating your thermostat more efficiently. Here’s what the U.S. Department of Energy suggests: 

• Keep your home warmer than usual while away and lower the thermostat only when you’re at home. 
• Avoid using a colder-than-normal setting when you turn on the AC — it won’t cool your home any faster and it could rack up unnecessary costs. 
• Get a programmable thermostat and learn how to use it for maximum energy savings. 

Place fans strategically 

A well-placed fan can make a room feel cooler than it really is. Several well-placed fans can minimize your reliance on AC, allowing you to reserve it for the worst scorchers. Since it costs less than a penny an hour to run a fan, you could run two dozen of them throughout your home and still pay less than it takes to run the air conditioner. But you won’t need that many if you position them strategically, so they move the hot air away from you. 

Summer-proof your home 

Summer-proofing your home requires planning a solid investment. For that reason, it’s not for everyone. Summer- proofing essentially means taking steps to keep cool air in and hot air out.  

Accomplish this by:  

• Having insulation checked and/or replaced.  
• Replacing blinds and window coverings 
• Purchasing automated thermostats 
• Checking seals around doors and windows.  

Go a step further by upgrading large appliances to more energy-efficient versions, adding an HVAC system or switching to solar paneling to make the most of the heat while using significantly less energy. If you’re thinking of upgrading your home to weather the, well, weather, then consider a home equity line of credit to help manage the costs. 

Follow these tips to stay cool this summer!