8 Energy Saving Tips for the 8 Hottest Weeks of the Year

Summer must be fast approaching. Yesterday, the thermometer hit 94 degrees! The only thing worse than the sweltering heat is that bulging electricity bill. We've all read the standard ideas for conserving power (turning out the lights, etc.), but there are a few unconventional ideas that can really help trim that utility budget.

Here are eight money-saving tips to implement over the eight hottest weeks of the year.

Plant a Tree Close to Outside Air Conditioner Unit
Direct sunlight combined with an already hot and humid air temperature can overwork your outdoor air conditioning unit. Plant a tree close to the unit, but leave several feet between the tree and you home's foundation. Root systems from trees planted too close to a house can wreak havoc on a home's foundation and sewer system. Look for a shade tree with lots of foliage to provide maximum shade.

Buy a Drying Rack for Jeans and Towels
This one took some convincing for my wife. As a family of four we tend to go through towels and blue jeans fast. For many Saturdays in a row it seemed like our dryer was running all day as we worked to catch up from a week's worth of laundry. We picked up a drying rack at our local Target store. The rack folds out providing 10-12 rods from which we can hang wet towels and blue jeans. We set up the rack in our bathroom and before bed we hung a load of wet towels. The towels were nearly dry overnight, so the next morning we placed them in the dryer with a Bounce sheet and ran them for about 10 minutes to fluff and soften. The towels came out dry, static free and soft to the touch.

Use a Crock-Pot or Microwave in the Summer
Cranking up an oven in the summer time can really heat up a kitchen. With the added heat your air conditioner has to work double time to keep the temperature to desired levels. Instead of heating up the kitchen in the heat of the day, plan some crock-pot meals. Roasts slow-cooked in a crock-pot all day with a cup or two of water and some carrots and potatoes make an excellent meal. Another trick is to bake in the morning when it is cooler and then reheat for an evening meal using the microwave.

Plug Electronic Equipment in to Power Strip/Surge Protector
Did you know electronic components continue to pull power even when they are turned off? Computers, DVD players and stereos all maintain a slight current of electricity for clock functions, or to stay in a "hibernated" state for quick startup. Plug these items in to a power strip and turn the power strip off when these items are not in use.

Shut Down Your Computer When Not Using
An argument has raged for many years over whether or not starting a computer shortened it useful life. Lately, it seems the consensus is that there is no real negative impact of shutting down and rebooting your computer. In fact, many experts believe a hard drive left in continuous operation may die sooner than one that is restarted frequently. Either way, your computer is a real "power user" amongst the smaller appliances (pardon the pun).

Bump Up Your Thermostat When Leaving the House
When planning to be out of your house for an extended period (more than an hour or two) set your thermostat a few degrees higher than you normally would. I recommend doing this instead of simply turning the thermostat off. With the unit off heat will build quickly and your system will work overtime getting the temperature down when you return.

Vacuum Air Return Filters Once a Month, and Replace Every Three Months
If you live in a particularly dusty environment, or have several pets that shed lots of dander, you may want to consider doing this even more frequently. Each month I bring down the air filters and vacuum them completely. Before installing a new filter I write the date of installation on the filter's cardboard edge using a permanent marker. When vacuuming the filter at month end I place a tick mark next to the date installed. If the filter already has two tick marks next to the date it's time to replace.

Run Bathroom Exhaust Fan While Showering
The primary purpose of your air conditioner is to replace warm, moist air with cool, dry air. When you shower the humidity in your bathroom skyrockets and has no place to go. When you open the bathroom door to exit that warm air moves to your bedroom or hallway and increases the temperature in your larger living spaces. To avoid this run your bathroom's exhaust fan during your shower. This trick also eliminates foggy mirrors over your vanity.