Staying Cool and Helping the Planet 💦☀️🌍
Summertime is officially here! And while the summer months are great for ice cream and time at the lake, it’s also an important season to keep up with home maintenance.
Here are some tips for keeping your home cool, helping the planet, and saving money.
Staying Cool
Maintain the air conditioner
Just as you maintain your heater in the winter, make sure your air conditioner is in tip-top shape for hot weather. Always remember to:
- Change the filter in the air-to-air converter
- Change furnace filter for air conditioning
- Wash out the air conditioner condenser
- Vacuum any debris blocking the air filter
Cool ways to conserve energy
There are many ways to keep your home cool in the summer that are not only great for your pocketbook, but also super helpful for conserving energy and helping the environment.
- Keep your blinds closed to create a cave-like effect. This will make your rooms naturally cooler
- Make sure your vents are not blocked by furniture or rugs
- Though it can be tempting to crank the air to max cold, having the thermostat set 5-8 degrees warmer will help you save money and conserve energy, with 78 being the most energy efficient temperature
- Get an energy audit to assess where cool air is escaping and letting hot air in
Water, Water Everywhere
Outside
Our lawns and gardens need water to grow and thrive, but there are many ways to keep your gardens happy while saving on water.
- Water your garden with a hose rather than a sprinkler system - that way you can spend some one-on-one time with your garden while making sure you’re not overwatering. Or, if you have a sprinkler system, minimize the watering time for each zone of your yard, and adjust the sprinkler heads to ensure they water grass—not pavement (or pedestrians!). Also, attach a rain sensor to automatically turn off your sprinklers when it is raining.
- Set up a rain barrel to catch water from your gutters to water your plants and flowers
- Water your gardens & lawns in the mornings or afternoons
Inside
Saving water inside the home is easy with a bit of awareness and a few adjustments. Here are some tips for water conservation in the home:
- Take shorter showers
- Don’t leave your water running while doing dishes or brushing your teeth
- Install water-saving sink and shower heads
- Only run your dishwasher when it’s full and limit how often you run it