Slash your summer energy bills

Key insights

• To lower your summer energy bills, focus on turning off “vampire appliances” that can cause your home’s energy use to skyrocket
• Purchase a programmable thermostat or stick to hard-and-fast rules about when the air conditioning goes on
• Check for leaks and gaps in your windows and doors to ensure your cool air isn’t escaping outdoors

Nix vampire energy

A recent report shows that “vampire” electronics — which output energy even when they’re not being directly used — make up nearly 23 percent of our nation’s energy use and cost the average American homeowner between $164-440 per year in idle energy bills.

Some appliances, like microwaves or ovens with clock features, may use a small amount of vampire energy while providing a clear convenience to the household. Other devices, like cable boxes, speakers and video game consoles, use a significant amount of energy despite adding no value when they’re not in use; be sure to turn off or unplug such devices when you are done using them. Surge protectors with an on/off switch can make this an easier endeavor.

If you love to record television shows to watch later, your DVR may be the no. 1 vampire energy culprit in your house. Consider switching from a DVR that live-records your favorite programs to a streamed option like “On Demand” programming through your cable provider or alternative options like Hulu, Netflix or Apple TV.

Get a programmable thermostat

Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat, which works on a schedule to adjust the temperature according to your preferences, the time of day and the day of the week.

For a relatively low upfront cost, you can expect to save up to 30 percent on your energy bills annually by leveraging a smart thermostat.

Set two temperatures and stick with them

If a programmable thermostat is out of the question, you can still regulate your energy use by determining how hot it has to be outside to turn on the air conditioning (AC) inside and how low you’ll set your AC when you do turn it on.

Share the set temperatures with your family and expect some whining and deal-making to ensue. Make an additional agreement that the last person to leave the house each day should turn the AC off or lower it on super-hot days.

Check for holes and leaks

Remember when your mom or dad would yell at you to close the door or windows because you were “cooling down the whole neighborhood?!” Well, they were right in more ways than they knew.

Leaks and cracks around your doors and windows allow cool air to escape so your air conditioning has to work twice as hard to keep the indoor temperatures regulated. Plug up holes and seal cracks using foam, caulking and extra insulation to lower your energy use.

Keep your home shaded when possible

Natural light is wonderful, but the heat from the sun will also prevent your home from cooling down. Keep your shades closed when you’re not using the room to prevent the sun from neutralizing the air conditioner’s efforts.

Lean into natural cooldown methods

To prevent a family-wide mutiny on hot days when the AC isn’t doing enough, be sure to promote healthy, natural cooldown methods:

• Keep pitchers of water, iced coffee or iced tea in the refrigerator
• Wear light-weight clothes around the house and to bed
• Keep cold compresses in the freezer for a quick respite

Prepping to sell?

Adding energy efficiency to your home can go a long way when it comes time to sell. Learn about other home improvements that help sell a home.