Schools Days and Energy Smart Ways

Schools Days and Energy Smart Ways
With the new school year and sports season upon us, members of your household may be away from home more often during the day. If that's the case, now is a great time to adjust your home energy use.
For instance, set your thermostat at 78 instead of 74 degrees and you can save about 40% on your cooling costs.
Lighting also has effect on your overall energy cost. Illuminated lights can add a lot of heat to the house. So keep up the good habit of turning lights off when you leave a room.
Here are a few easy e+ tips to share with your family and friends:

• Don't try to speed cool your house at a very low temperature when your get home from school or work. A standard single-speed AC unit won't cool faster. When it's running, it's cooling as fast as it can. So choose your normal indoor setting, such as 78 degrees.
  
• Arrange items in your refrigerator for quick removal and return. Your refrigerator cools the food but heats the kitchen. The longer the door stays open, the longer it runs, heating the kitchen and raising the air-conditioning costs.
  
• Use the microwave or outdoor grill instead of the range and oven. Both are especially useful during the summer because they won't heat up the kitchen during cooking.
  
• Drink plenty of tap water. Water will help you stay hydrated and feel cooler.