Save Energy and Still Stay Cool This Summer

I live in Central Texas, where this summer is off to a brutal start. Temperatures here have been over the 100 degree mark every day of the last two weeks. While not everywhere in the US is quite as hot as we are here, most people do see their highest electricity bills during the summer months, putting many of us in a tricky situation. Living without air conditioning simply isn't an option, but how can you keep cool without rocketing your electric bill into the stratosphere--especially now, when money is tight? Never fear, because there are simple things that you can do to help.

The first thing you want to do is make sure you're saving power wherever possible. While you might not be able to replace that old air conditioner or fridge with a new, energy-efficient model, that doesn't mean you can't save power in simple ways. Unplug your cell phone charger when you're not using it--the same goes for your laptop power cable. Turn off the television when you're not watching it, and power down your computer when it's not in use, too. In fact, one easy way to accomplish all that is to buy an inexpensive power strip and just flip the switch off when you're not using the appliances plugged into it.

Also, replace your traditional light bulbs with high-efficiency florescent bulbs. Not only will they last longer, they'll save you electricity every time you flip on the light. And the old advice is still good advice--turn off lights in rooms you're not using, and don't forget to turn the fans off in there, too. Many people leave their ceiling fans on all day, which is a waste because no one's in there to be cooled by the moving air.

But these are obvious things. When these tricks don't reduce your bill enough, what else can you do?

A good place to start is by calling your local power company. Many city power utilities will offer a free home inspection where they professionally evaluate your insulation, wiring, appliances, and other common places where energy is wasted. Sometimes just putting an extra bead of caulk around cracks in the walls can save more money than replacing your air conditioning unit--and it's certainly much less expensive.

What can you do if your electric utility doesn't offer the free evaluation? You can do much the same thing yourself. Examine your windows and doors carefully to look for leaks. If you can see light around your front or back door, it means you're losing cold air through that gap. You can purchase foam tape at WalMart or any hardware store to seal them up. If you can't tell whether you're losing cold air through spaces around a window, try holding an incense stick and moving it around the window edges while someone stands at the other side and checks for smoke leaking out, and caulk up those leaks.

If you don't have any shade on the afternoon side of your home, you can put foil over the windows to reflect that heat back out. Speaking of shade, it's important to keep your air conditioner unit in the shade whenever possible. Planting fast-growing shrubs around the unit (but not too close, because you don't want the leaves to clog the unit) will help the unit work more efficiently and therefore use less electricity. In the meantime, putting an outdoor umbrella over the unit will do the same thing.

Also, if you can, add extra insulation to the ceiling. Your house absorbs the most heat through the roof. Putting an extra layer of insulation in the attic costs a bit of money, but the savings will be worth it. And some cities and counties will give you a tax break for doing this kind of energy-saving home improvement.

Keeping cool during the sweltering summer months is more than just a matter of comfort--in many areas, it's absolutely necessary for health and safety. Following these simple steps can ensure that you can stay cool without your electric bill breaking the bank.