Keeping cool during the summer months without the undertaking becoming a burden to your wallet can be a long and tedious battle. How much energy you and your family consume during the summer can put a real strain on your budget but there a several methods for combating the summer’s sweltering heat.
Cool mist in a bottle
Keeping a spray bottle filled with cold water in the refrigerator for spraying your face and chest is a good way to keep cool when the going gets tough. Wash out the bottle and change the water every two weeks to keep bacteria from building up in the bottle. You can also purchase water bottles with spray fans that are reasonably priced.
Switch to LED lighting
Incandescent light emits quite a bit of heat and can drive the temperature of a room up several degrees during extended periods of use. LED light bulbs emit less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs and consume 70-75% less energy making the switch well worth the effort.
Consider alternative methods for prepping food
Reluctant cooks can use the summer months as an excuse to keep the oven off and use alternative methods for preparing meals in an effort to keep the house cooler during the day. Microwaves and slow cookers generate a lot less heat than ovens or you can even consider grilling more often during the warmer months or serving cool foods like sandwiches and salads.
In addition, having a cozy outdoor space is also a fabulous way to enjoy the summer months entertain friends and family while at the same time keeping your family’s energy bills manageable.
Protect yourself from Vampires
No, I’m not talking about the confused, blood sucking teens from The CW’s Vampire Diaries. I’m talking about the “vampires” that are continuously sucking your power grid dry when you aren’t charging your cell phone, watching TV or using the microwave. You could save up to a month’s worth of free electricity each year by unplugging these appliances or adding them to a surge protector that you can shut off when not in use.
Always stay hydrated
When we sweat we lose a lot of water over time and our bodies need to remain adequately hydrated to function properly. It’s a good idea to drink plenty of water on hot days and to avoid sugary drinks whenever possible since they can actually make you feel even thirstier and hot drinks will only increase your internal temperature.
Invest in a programmable thermostat
You definitely don’t want to have your AC running all day if you’re going to be at work or out of the house running errands. However, you also don’t want to come home to a burning oven in the middle of summer. Installing a programmable thermostat allows you to automatically adjust your home’s temperature, up or down, at predetermined time an intervals or by remote thus reducing the amount of energy needed to keep your home cool. In addition, newer, Wi-Fi enabled thermostats allow you adjust your temperature settings via smartphone when tied to a web service such as EnergyHub.
Make use of organic clothing and bedding
Organic fabrics are “breathable” and will draw moisture away from your skin making them great for clothing and bedding during the summer. Also, make sure you keep your blinds closed during the day’s peak sunlight periods.
The summer result in some of the highest energy bills of the year in many parts of the U.S. and for that reason, many of us in some small way dread the warmer months. However, you don’t have to let the heat get to you. With a little common sense and ingenuity you can overcome the harsh heat of summer without breaking the bank.
