Save energy, stay cool – and go green this summer

How to stay cool, save energy – and some cash!  It can be easier than you think to make a few small changes that have real effect on your energy use and bills!

Whew!  No way to skirt this issue:  Arizona gets hot in the summer.  Dry heat?  Well, sure, but so’s the heat inside your oven! 

Keeping cool during our summers takes a lot of energy.  It’s expensive, too.  Energy costs for an Arizona home of around 2,000 square feet can run as much as $200 to $300 a month between June and September.

With natural gas costs on the rise, this summer’s energy bills could be even higher than usual. 

Especially now, we want to save both energy and money.  Here are a few tips to help you make your home a bit more energy efficient and save a bit on your bills, too.

First, be sure your air conditioner is in good working order.  When air conditioners run effectively, they use far less energy.  Make sure your filter is clean.  In the summer, it’s smart to change it every month.

And how long has it been since you had your air conditioning unit cleaned?   Having it cleaned professionally will give you as much as 10 percent more energy efficiency.

If you can adjust your thermostat, you’ll see big savings quickly.  The Alliance to Save energy says that for every two degrees of cooling you give up, you’ll save between five and 10 percent in operating costs.  A programmable thermostat that adjusts the temperature when you’re out of the house will save even more.

Use your ceiling fans, too.  A ceiling fan circulates the air and makes for cooler rooms – and it costs 90 percent less to operate than your central cooling system.

Windows into savings

Up to 20 percent of conditioned air inside a house is lost through windows and doors.   That’s why you want to make certain you have white window shades, drapes or blinds that can help to reflect heat away from the house.

During the day, close the curtains on south and west-facing windows. 

You may want to consider adding awnings on some windows, as well.

Timing matters

Running big appliances like your dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer late in the day or very early in the morning will help keep your home cooler and save energy, too.  Each of these adds heat and moisture to your home, making it harder to keep cool during hot weather.

When you’re thinking of dinner, think early first.  If there is a dish or even two that you can finish and refrigerate until needed, you’ll save energy, and keep your kitchen cooler.  This is a good time to find out how useful your microwave can be in preparing vegetables.

Remember to use lids on pots and pans, since this will allow you to reduce your burner heat while you’re cooking on the stovetop.

You’ll also save energy if you opt to barbecue during this season.

When you’re ready to serve dinner, remember to use reusable dishes or compostable disposables.  Plastic forks and spoons?  Save the environment and use your everyday table ware. 

Finally, even though our growing season doesn’t peak during summer months, regional farmer’s markets are still open.

Eating locally helps cut down on the costs needed to transport our food, and lends financial support to our local farmers, too.  You’ll find a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, dairy products and even meat to add taste and interest to summer dining.

You can find more tips for a greener summer in Arizona at www.care2.com/greenliving, http//planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green, and www.azfamily.com//news/specialreports/green/stories.

Summer water savings

According to water conservation experts, the typical U.S. household uses around 363 gallons of water every day. 

Here in Arizona, though, we also use a lot of water outdoors.  The American Water Works Association says that a typical home in the Phoenix region may use more than 100,000 gallons of water every year watering the lawn or garden. 

Nationwide, lawns and gardens are a home’s biggest water users.  Here are a few ways you can begin to reduce your outdoor water use.

1. Smart Sprinkler
Install a timer.  There’s an easy to use timer system that retails for less than $100 and provides independent control of zones, plus seasonal adjustments. Some systems even use real-time weather data to decide when to water.

2. Mower Height
Do away with the buzz cut once and for all. Set your lawnmower height to a lofty 3 in. Longer blades promote deeper root growth, allowing the soil to retain more moisture.

3. A New Swim Cap
Consider adding a cover to your backyard pool.  A properly fitting cover can slow evaporation from your pool, reducing water use by nearly 30 percent.

4. Drip. Drip. Drip.
For trees and flower beds, low-volume drip irrigation can go directly to the roots, which reduces waste, runoff and evaporation.  Also, water first thing in the morning (ideally before sunrise) to minimize evaporation.

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