Summer is a wonderful time of the year! Warm weather, school is out and vacations are ready to begin. However, it also means a big increase in your utility bills if you aren’t careful. This can hinder your debt management efforts. If you’re on a tight budget, you probably want to keep your utility bills as low as possible. Let’s look at how you can be saving on summer utilities.
Try ACCC’s of saving on summer utilities.
Tips for Saving on Summer Utilities
Heating/HVAC Saving Tips
- Open your windows at night as the temperature cools off.
- Keep your thermostat as high as comfortably possible.
- Use ceiling fans if you have air conditioning. Then you can raise your thermostat four degrees Fahrenheit without reducing comfort.
- Turn off ceiling fans when you leave a room.
- Make sure furniture and other objects don’t block air vents.
- Lower your thermostat by 10 degrees for eight hours a day while you’re at work. This saves ten percent on utility costs each year. Anything helps when you’re trying to stay within budget.
- Don’t use the oven on hot days. Use the stove, microwave or grill outside instead.
- Install LED lights. After you do, you’ll notice they last longer, consume less energy and therefore produce less heat.
- Limit the use of appliances that generate lots of heat. This includes computers, dishwashers, hair dryers, and curling irons.
Saving on summer utilities isn’t just reserved for your heating and air conditioning systems. With rising temperatures comes a rise in using water for lawn maintenance and other uses. Depending on which region you’re in, between thirty and seventy percent of the water you use is outdoors.
Water Utilities Saving Tips
- Turn your sprinklers on in the early morning and in the evening so that the sun doesn’t evaporate most of your water.
- Check your sprinkler system for breaks or leaks.
- Collect rainwater in rain barrels and use that instead of a hose or sprinkler.
- Use a local car wash for cleaning your car.
- Sweep your driveway, walkway, and patio instead of using a hose.
There are many ways to save on your summer utilities this year. You can use the money you save to build an emergency savings fund or pay off debt. Enjoy your summer!
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