Save Money During Summer

Summers are the hottest months of the year. As soon as summer vacation begins, the temperature just keeps on rising up, prompting us to stay indoors most of the time and letting our air conditioners work overtime. Our electric bills will go up considerably which will affect our monthly budget.

And it’s not just air conditioners’ fault. Since we’re staying indoors we are more inclined to use our household electronics. Our television, computers and other electronic gadgets will be working overtime as well since we don’t have anything to do and outside exercise or activities is out of the question because of the heat.

If we are able to control the rising temperature in our homes, we could lower down our electric bill. But we can’t just switch them off since the heat is just unbearable most of the time. So here are some tips that could address the heat so you could switch off your air conditioning and ultimately save money.

Use Mother Nature

Instead of closing all windows and using the full potential of the air conditioner switch it off and open the window.

Mix the air conditioner with your fan

The air conditioner doesn’t have to be switched on all the time so that it could cool the area. Switch on the air conditioner and when it cools a good area in house, switch the fans on so that it could easily distribute the cool wind all over the house faster.

Limit the area of coverage for your air conditioner

A wider room means more time before the air conditioner’s effect could be felt. Use the air conditioner in smaller rooms in your house and spend the hottest times of the day there. The whole family could enjoy watching TV or playing with the computer as the air conditioner could easily cool the entire area.

Don’t stay close to your television and computer monitors

These gadgets could emit heat that it could even overpower the air conditioner if you’re sitting too close to them.

Give your garden a “greener” experience

Plant trees in your garden and watch the heat in your area go down really fast. It is said that a single tree could have a cooling equivalent of up to 10 air conditioners. If you have two at the front and two at the back, you’ll have a very cool home.

Shade rocks in your garden

Rocks are insulators so heat is absorbed really fast. Do not place stones in open areas as they could contribute in some way to the increasing temperature in your area.

Consult a professional…online

If you don’t have an air conditioner yet, don’t just go out and get the smallest air conditioner so that you could save some money. Go online and look for the “cooling calculator” endorsed by AHAM or the (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. The website will ask you questions which will give a recommended air conditioner that will suit your preferences.

Look for the Energy Star label

Make it a habit of buying electronic products only with the Energy Star label. This is a government issued label to appliances since they have displayed higher energy efficiency. Another label that is also worth checking out is the AHAM certification. They have an independent laboratory that checks products for energy efficiency.

Look for the EER rating

EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio. A high rating for EER will guarantee that it consumes less power compared to other products. EER is placed in most modern air-conditioners so you’ll have a good idea on how efficient an air conditioner at first glance.