Nonprofit credit counseling agency shares ideas for saving money on
electricity, cooking, laundry and more
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sun and sand, amusement parks, road trips and good times are all summer
hallmarks. But as temperatures climb, so do household bills, putting a
damper on the fun.
People are also reading…
“Summer can be expensive, especially in hot climates where energy use
skyrockets,” said Michael Sullivan, a personal finance consultant with
Take Charge America, a national
nonprofit credit counseling and debt management agency. “With a few
simple changes to your routine, you can stop worrying about high energy
bills and enjoy your summer.”
Sullivan offers cool tips to save money in the hot summer months:
Air Conditioning
Program your thermostat to ensure maximum efficiency on your
AC. Set it higher than normal during summer and consider increasing it
further when you’re away at work or on vacation.
Move lamps or TV sets away from thermostat. It senses heat from
these appliances and may trigger your AC to run longer than necessary.
Use ceiling fans, window units or area fans to keep your home
breezy.
Draw the blinds during the day, especially on the sunny side of
your house.
Clean your filters and consider an AC audit to ensure
your unit is operating efficiently.
Keep air vents clear of obstructions.
Shut windows during hot days but open them on cool nights
to allow air to circulate. In the morning, close them again to trap
the cool air from the previous night.
If you’re planning to spend the evening in one part of the house, shut
doors to avoid cooling other rooms.
Cooking
Skip the oven, which heats up your house and requires your AC
to work harder.
Plan no-cook meals – like salads and sandwiches – to save
energy.
Run the dishwasher when it’s full – a half-empty machine uses
the same amount of water and power – and skip the drying function.
Clean your freezer coils to help your freezer run efficiently
and check the gaskets to ensure it isn’t leaking air.
Laundry
Wash clothes in cold water, and only do full loads.
Hang your laundry to save on energy.
If you must use the dryer, do back-to-back loads since your
machine is already warm.
Power
Enroll in your power company’s peak hours program and save
energy-sucking chores for off-peak hours.
Unplug devices that aren’t in use. Chargers, cable boxes and
toasters can drain power even when they’re “off.”
Turn down your water heater to 120 degrees and consider insulating
your water tank to reduce standby heat losses.
Use the bathroom ventilating fan when you take a shower to suck
away heat and humidity.
Seal cracks and or add weather-stripping around leaky doors and
windows.
For more tips or information about budgeting, credit counseling, debt
relief or student loans, visit takechargeamerica.org
or call (866) 528-0588.
About Take Charge America, Inc.
Founded in 1987, Take Charge America, Inc. is a nonprofit agency
offering financial education and counseling services including credit
counseling, debt management, student loan counseling, housing counseling
and bankruptcy counseling. It has helped more than 1.6 million consumers
nationwide manage their personal finances and debts. To learn more,
or call (888) 822-9193.
Contacts
Aker Ink
Andrea Aker, 602-339-7339