Summertime brings a slower pace and a welcome vacation; however, that doesn’t mean you have to give energy savings a break. Here are Arpi’s tips for energy savings through the dog days of summer.
Tips that require effort, and add up to some savings:
- Remember this slogan: full loads. When operating the washing machine, dishwasher and dryer, loads should be full. Lighter loads waste energy, because you have to run more loads to clean the same amount of clothes or dishes.
- Use an outdoor grill to cook meals and give the stove (and electricity consumption) a rest.
- Second refrigerators that are so old you forget when you actually purchased them consume a lot of energy. Although they’re convenient, unload and unplug them.
Tips that require effort and are low-cost, and will get you some bang for your buck:
- Air-sealing strategies that tighten up your home’s outer envelope help to keep cool air in and warm air out – where it belongs. Try sealing around windows and doors using caulk.
- Installing a programmable thermostat helps you to “set-it-and-forget-it.” Regularly setting your thermostat up in the summer when you’re either sleeping or not at home helps to increase energy savings.
Tips that require research and higher initial investment, but lifetime savings are significant:
- Invest in high-efficiency air conditioning.
- Seal ductwork, which can be a huge energy siphon.
- Add insulation to the attic.
Tips that you should have done prior to summer…but it’s never too late to:
- Get your cooling equipment serviced. Preventive maintenance for A/C helps it run efficiently the rest of the summer.
- Change air conditioning filters. You should ideally change them before initially running the A/C, but they should also be changed regularly during the summer months to keep your system clean.
Tips that help your home’s overall efficiency:
- Combine the use of fans with your A/C and you can set your thermostat up a degree or two without feeling uncomfortable.
Use these tips to increase energy savings, and contact Arpi’s for a consultation; we can help you improve the efficiency of your home.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.
