Follow these tips to save energy and cut costs in the summer heat

Gardner Energy understands that, for most customers during the summer, your home energy bill usually increases by up to 15%, as households turn on their cooling systems to ward off the heat.
Increased energy consumption, however, is not the only issue. In addition, cooling systems emit 6,600 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The following summer energy-saving tips will help reduce home energy bills and lessen environmental emissions:

1. Your thermostat: Lamps and televisions exude heat, causing your AC to run overtime. Move the upright standing lamps and television across the room if you can and consider switching to compact fluorescent bulbs, which generate less heat, last longer and use less energy than incandescent bulbs. Also, by raising your thermostat by three degrees, you can save around 20% on your cooling costs. You can save even more if you raise your thermostat by 5-10 degrees. You can do this without compromising your comfort level if you have ceiling fans capable of moving enough air to offset the higher thermostat setting.

2. Insulate intelligently: You know the feeling…somehow, it always seems 10 degrees hotter upstairs than it does downstairs. Reduce the effect of the sun’s sizzling rays by insulating your attic. This will prevent the intense heat on the roof from filtering down into the rest of the house.

3. Get window wise: During those scorching days, or before you leave for work in the morning, close your curtains and blinds to prevent the sun from beating down into the rooms and needlessly warming your home. Bonus: It will reduce fading of upholstery and rugs.

4. Make use of your microwave: Prepping dinner? Not only is it quicker and a lot more convenient, but four minutes in the microwave will generate much less heat than a half hour in the oven.

5. Plant a tree: Plant deciduous trees (those that shed their leaves in the winter, like a maple) by the south and west sides of your home to shade windows from heat. In the winter, their bare branches will allow sunlight to stream into your home for added warmth. Also, consider planting trees or shrubs near your AC unit. It will use less electricity when operating under the shade.

6. Use household appliances wisely: Regardless of the time of the year, turning off everything, from lights to computers, when not in use is a vital step to reducing home energy bills. Also, unplug electronic gadgets and small appliances such as PCs and chargers, as many of them are energy vampires, continuing to use electricity even when turned off.

7. Use fans: Use fans along with AC to circulate air better and make rooms feel cooler. As previously mentioned, this will enable you to raise your thermostat, yet maintain a comfortable temperature and contain air conditioning costs. Keep fans on high speed except when days are particularly humid. When humidity is high, fans should be on low speed to remove moisture better.

8. Opt for an energy-efficient lighting system: A 23-watt compact fluorescent bulb uses only 25% of electricity needed to produce the same amount of light generated by a 100-watt incandescent bulb. Replace incandescent bulbs at home that are used for more than 2 hours a day with Energy Star compact fluorescent bulbs.