LIVING GREEN: Keeping your home cool without breaking the bank

Summer in the south can wreck havoc on your energy budget. Trying to cool your home, while not breaking the bank or energy reserves is hard, especially if you’re not a fan of the summer heat.

Instead of cranking the air conditioning and dreading your electric bill the next month, there are more efficient ways to stay cool. Keeping moisture low is one of the best ways to tame the heat.

“One area of moisture is from cooking and bathing and showering, these create lots of moisture for your home,” Sherry Coleman, Energy Advisor for Santee Cooper. “You want to run your exhaust fans while you’re bathing so that you can remove the moisture from your bathrooms.“

Other easy, low to no-cost ways to cool off is to use ceiling fans while you’re in a room. Turn them off if you leave the room.  Keep your blinds mostly closed during peak heat hours and limit the use of appliances to the early or late hours of the day.  They run more efficiently and don’t heat your home unnecessarily.

“If you look at the whole house approach, 40 percent of heating and cooling is heat pump. 30 percent is from hot water heating and the other 30 percent is from lighting and small appliances,” said Coleman.  “So, if you keep your thermostat to 76-78 during the summer and if you switch out your lights with all CFL light bulbs, you can save 75% on your lighting costs.”        Coleman also said to adjust your hot water heater to 120 degree so that way you capture all of our energy savings throughout your home.“

And your mother was right, keep doors closed so you don’t cool the neighborhood. 

For more energy saving ideas go to:
https://www.santeecooper.com/portal/page/portal/SanteeCooper/CommunityEducation