The hottest days of summer have hit and, as expected, we have experienced multiple heat waves so far this year. My last electric bill was the highest I’ve seen this year, but we managed to stay comfortable thanks to air-conditioning.

Even as the heat presses in, there are some ways you can save on energy without becoming uncomfortable. I’ve pulled together seven tips, each of which can save you from pennies to perhaps several dollars every day:

1. Adjust Thermostat — 76 degrees may feel ideal, but the steamy state of Louisiana suggests that 78 degrees is low enough. For every degree increase in thermostat saving, four to eight percent can be saved.
2. Change Filters — Changing the air-conditioning filter more frequently in hotter weather can ensure that air flows unimpeded. Help your a/c work with less effort and it’ll consumer less electricity.
3. Ceiling Fans — Use ceiling fans to distribute air more evenly. Your room will feel cooler even if the thermostat is on a higher setting.
4. Close Up — Ample outside light is welcome, but the heat it brings with it. Pull shades, close blinds and pull curtains together on the sides of the house where direct sun light streams in.
5. Peak Hours — Running appliances at peak hours will cost your more. Running these same appliances at other times of the day will lower your costs. Check with your utility provider to find out when rates drop to run your dishwasher or clothes dryer.
6. Fix Leaks — Patching leaks isn’t just a winter-time task. Keep outside air from seeping in and cooler a/c air from leaking out by fixing window seals, door gaskets and checking ventilation connections.
7. Change Suppliers — If you have a choice in who supplies you with electricity, then find out whose rates are lowest and make a switch.

If your electricity bill is too high, consider going with a budget plan to keep your rates level all year long. Your monthly payments will adjust annually, but at least you won’t be socked with a surprise the month following a heat wave.

Adv. — Are you ready to tackle that home improvement project? Low loan rates can help you save money; please visit LetsRenovate.com to explore your financing options.

This old fan once served well, but newer models are likely lighter and much more quiet, offering needed cooling to provide maximum comfort.

Air-conditioning may be comfortable but sometimes it isn’t necessary and it almost always is expensive. When the next heat wave arrives with temperatures pushing up toward 95 degrees, you probably won’t be able to imagine yourself without a/c though you may be tempted to keep it at a low setting in order to enjoy maximum cooling.

While air-conditioning is certainly beneficial, you could still realize significant cooling through the use of fans, especially if the humidity isn’t all that high and temperatures are very warm, although not hot. True, fans alone won’t have much of an effect on lowering air temperature or removing humidity, yet they can work with your home’s air-conditioning unit to lower energy costs while making your home comfortable.

Fabulous Fans For Every Homeowner

Let’s take a look at some of the different types of fans which could be of benefit to you:

Ceiling Fans – What room doesn’t look elegant with a ceiling fan in it? Take an ordinary fan and add an extraordinary light fixture to it and you’ll have a room that is cooler and better lit than a room without a ceiling fan.

Exhaust Fans – Your kitchen exhaust fan can do a terrific job extracting undesirable odors from the home. That smelly swordfish dinner might have tasted great, but the odor is not something you want to have on hand for many days later. By simply running your kitchen exhaust fan while you cook, you can do away with household odors. As for the bathroom, exhaust fans are designed to both remove heat and excess moisture, something that will stop fungus growth and keep the bathroom fresh smelling.

Oscillating Fans – Ceiling fans certainly do a great job of cooling a room, but they aren’t favored by cooks as they can quickly cool off hot food. Instead, an oscillating counter top or floor fan can be a more fitting and wiser cooling device for the kitchen.

Patio Fans – Yes, even the great outdoors can benefit from a fan. Both outdoor ceiling fans or an all-weather oscillating fan can help move air while keeping disease carrying mosquitoes and other insects away from people. Some outdoor fans come equipped with a mister which can cool the surrounding air, bringing it down to a more comfortable level.

Miscellaneous Fans – Your personal computers come equipped with a fan to help keep it cool as do many of today’s electrical devices. Fans offer a great way to control internal temperatures which keeps expensive equipment from being damaged from the heat.

Of course, using fans in replacement of air-conditioning completely doesn’t work in many warmer climes. However, by making good use of fans, you can run your a/c at a higher temperature while still keeping everyone cool and your electrical bill down.

Photo Credit: Dmitry Mayatskyy

Adv. — No matter how you plan on improving your home, careful shopping online can bring about tremendous savings for you and your family.  Please visit nBuy Plaza to find excellent deals on everything for the home. Shop for bargain basement items and check out our selection of home theater buys!