In many areas, temperatures are getting hotter than they’ve ever been before. Not only does this make it hard for people to keep their homes cool, but it also causes people to use a lot more energy than they ordinarily would. As a result of this, residents of many areas need to be careful with how much energy they use during a heat wave if only to help them save some money.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for conserving energy during a heat wave.
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Bump Up Your Thermostat
While this might seem like the opposite of what you want to be doing during a heat wave, raising the temperature of your home can help you to save a lot of energy and money during a heat wave.
Because your air conditioner won’t need to work as hard when you keep your home at a warmer temperature, you’ll be able to save money on your cooling bill as well as use a lot less energy during this time, since your HVAC system is likely the main user of energy in your home. If you’re unsure where the best temperature to set your home is, Monica Luhar, a contributor to SCPR.org, recommends that you set it at 78 degrees until the temperature outside drops back down to a normal temperature for that time of year.
Block The Sun From Entering Your Home
One way you can keep your home from heating up even when you’re setting your air conditioner at a higher temperature is by blocking the sun from getting into your home in the first place.
To do this, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you install window coverings that will keep the sun out. Window coverings can be put on either the outside of your windows, like with shutter or screens or on the inside of your windows, like with curtains or blinds. By using the right coverings at the right times of day, you’ll be able to keep your home cooler without even having to use fans, which also use energy.
Keep Electronics Off
As was mentioned above, anything that needs to be plugged in is going to be using energy and get warm. So when you’re trying to keep your energy usage down and your temperature as low as you can, it’s best to keep your electronics off as much as possible.
As part of this, Harvard University suggests that you do things like keeping the lights off that you’re not using or don’t need, run your electronics off their battery power, use the stairs rather than an elevator, and just keep as many things unplugged or powered down as you can.
If you want to conserve energy during a heat wave, now or later, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.
