Try These Cool Energy Efficiency Tips When It's Warm

You might think of energy efficiency as being most effective in the colder or winter months. While there's no doubt that cold weather and inefficient homes result in the most energy usage and waste, you can still save money and energy even when there's no need for heating. Simply apply some of the following easy home energy saving tips and you'll notice a difference in your energy bills all year round.

Natural Cooling

If you regularly use air conditioning in summer months then you can make some big savings by relying on more natural cooling solutions first. Keeping windows open is the easiest way to do this, but there are several other steps which make small differences that can add up. Avoiding using ovens during the day where possible will avoid making your home even hotter. Shorter or cooler showers may make a difference. And even switching to energy saving bulbs can reduce heat a little.

Another useful tip is to close curtains in rooms you don't use in the daytime to reduce the amount of direct heat from the sun and the overall temperature of your home.

Air Conditioning

If your air conditioning system has a thermostat, use the same approach as with heating systems: have the equipment do just enough to get to a comfortable temperature and no more. Don't be tempted to set the temperature far below what you actually want in the hope of cooling a room quicker: the thermostat simply controls what temperature the air gets to, not the time it takes to get there.

How To Use Fans

Electric fans do a good job but you need to be smart about how you use them. If you have a rotating model, placing it in a hallway with the various room doors open can help cool several rooms at once.

Even better, use two fans, one directed inwards next to a window and another also directed inwards next to a window at the other sid of your property. If you can set up a direct line, you'll ensure a very effective flow of cold air.

If you have a house rather than a flat, it may be worth experimenting with fans facing in from downstairs windows and out of upstairs windows. This method takes advantage of the heat that rises through your home and creates a flow of air to encourage the heat to leave out of the open upstairs windows.

Energy Saving Laundry

If you have a yard or garden, drying clothes outside in warm weather can be a real energy saver. This doesn't just mean not having to use electricity on a spin cycle or a tumble drier. It also reduces the need to use a clothes horse indoors which, during colder months, can cause damp and mean using electricity for dehumidifiers.

By simply applying basic energy saving ideas and changing your energy usage habits around the house you can save money and the environment whatever the weather is doing.