Sometimes the best things in life are paired with… aspects we don’t love as much. Take summer, for instance. Sure, we all love the extra free time, visiting beaches and seeing places we’ve never seen before, but the heat can be… unpleasant. This is especially true if you’re stuck in a hot home all day.
The good news is that there are ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home this summer. From replacing windows to installing a smart thermostat, here are a few tips to try.
Improve Access Points
Windows and doors are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to sapping your home’s energy (and increasing your air conditioning costs). If you can see light around the edges of your window or door frames, or you can feel outside air coming from them, it’s a good sign they aren’t sealed properly. Repair or upgrade access points and you’ll reduce energy costs. These can be big upgrades, however, so make sure you rent a residential storage container to hold your items while the renovation is being completed.
Operate Thermostats Appropriately
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t want to turn off your air conditioning when you’re away from home. This can actually increase costs as your A/C unit works harder to compensate for the higher temperatures and get back to what’s ideal. Instead, leave the temperature a little higher than normal when you’re gone on summer days, then return it to a tolerable/comfortable level once you’re back home. Also consider investing in a smart thermostat to save on energy costs.
(Have items that need to be in a controlled climate, but are taking up space? You can have a storage container delivered to your location, loaded up and then stored at a climate-controlled facility.)
Make Small Changes
Little changes by themselves may only amount to a few pennies of energy savings, but when you combine several energy-efficiency efforts together, you’ll be making a real difference and see the results on your energy bill each month. Some examples of small changes you can make to improve the energy efficiency of your home this summer include:
- Water heating typically accounts for a fifth of your home’s energy costs; consider reducing the temperature or using cold water when you can.
- Wash full loads of laundry instead of half or partially full loads.
- Take advantage of daylight as much as you can and avoid artificial light, if possible.
- Seal cracks or energy-sapping points in other areas of your home, such as the attic.
- Schedule regular maintenance on anything that consumes energy.
- Use a storage containerto keep items out of the way instead of moving them in and out of the house all day (and opening and closing the door).
If you’re improving the energy efficiency of your home, consider renting a portable storage container for your belongings while you make the upgrades. Contact us for a quote today!