As the summer temperatures surge close to triple digits, an acquaintance seeking to make light of the blast furnace heat will probably ask “How is this weather affecting you?”
You wouldn’t be too far off base if you would reply “I’m bacon.”
Summertime here in north Texas brings with it an imposing type of heat. Hopefully, you will be the beneficiary of an occasional refreshing breeze. And, while you just might grin and bear it as you dance to the rhythm of the song Hot, Hot, Hot, Realtor Judi Wright is pleased to provide a few simple but significant steps to at least help cool down your home’s energy costs. Each of these suggestions will contribute in some way to a lower energy bill.
First, set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are at home and 85 degrees (or off) when you are away. If you have ceiling fans, they will enable you to set the thermostat higher because the air movement will cool the room.
Next, do your laundry more efficiently by using warm or cold water settings for washing clothes. When you dry the clothes, run full loads, use its moisture-sensing setting, and clean the lint trap each time.
A second helpful energy-saving habit is to run your dishwasher only when it is completely full. You might also choose to switch off the “Heat Dry” option and prop open the dishwasher door after the load has been finished to let the dishes air dry.
You may wish to unplug any electronic gadgets that are not frequently used, such as the guest bedroom TV and your I-pod or Kindle charger. You should also keep kitchen counter-top appliances such as the toaster unplugged when they are not being used.
It goes without saying that you should to switch off lights that aren’t in use. If you have children young enough to require constant reminders to do this, then consider installing occupancy sensors that automatically turn lights on when someone enters the room and off when they leave. The sensors can identify when a particular space is occupied and adjust the lighting (as well as heating, cooling and other appliances) accordingly.
Fourth, be sure to focus your lighting on the parts of a room that need it, instead of brightly and unnecessarily illuminating an entire room.
Finally, consider using energy-efficient light bulbs throughout your home because they last much longer than regular bulbs and switch out your can lights to LED lights, they provide high quality, extreme long-lasting lighting at a very low price.
Realtor Judi Wright hopes that these tips will help decrease your energy costs during this hot Texas summer. Please be sure to Email Judi at [email protected] or call her at (214) 597-2985 if you are in the market for a new home, or are looking to sell your current property.
