Summer the perfect time to go green in the home

Summer is nearly here, and that means everyone will be out and about enjoying the beautiful weather.  It's also the perfect time to take advantage of the warmer weather and ease those utility bills, turn off the heating and enjoy all the positives that come with this time of the year. So what can you do to be more energy efficient this summer and cut down on what you pay your energy company?

Ditch your tumble dryer

If you have a garden or small outdoor space Summer is the perfect time to challenge yourself to a minimum of 3 months of tumble dryer-free time and really start using your clothing line and let your clothes dry naturally. Not only is this a fantastic and easy way to save money but also it's better for your clothes.

Opt for LED Lighting

Changing out your existing bulbs for LED bulbs isn’t something that can help you reduce your energy usage just in summer. It’s a great year-round idea. LED bulbs work at a lower wattage than their incandescent counterparts and can use 75% less energy. Another benefit of LED bulbs is the fact that they last up to 50 times longer than regular bulbs, so you’ll spend less time switching out as well. 

Embrace natural light

What is even better than just changing your bulbs for LED lights is keeping your lights off whenever possible. The days of summer are long, so try to avoid the temptation to turn on unnecessary lights when there’s still plenty of natural light, so open those curtains and blinds and let the light in. Not only does using lights use energy, but it can also make your home hotter.

Cook Outside

Nothing quite says summer like cooking outside on your grill or bbq. If you can spend more of your summer evenings preparing meals outside, you can not only enjoy the weather and some family time, but you can also save quite a bit of energy. You could also opt for cooking on a small gas camping stove which is portable as well if you wanted to opt for a night at the beach, just be adhere to the correct safety procedures when cooking outdoors. 

Eat local produce

This one doesn't necessarily save on utilities but summer is a time when local produce is at its best so supporting small co-ops, farms and producers is a great way to give back and also cut down your carbon footprint. Eating local doesn't strictly mean going vegan or vegetarian either, in fact buying sustainably, slow grown, organic local meat is also a big step forward in terms of lowering your carbon footprint and you can learn about it more here. 

Invest in New Window Coverings

The hot afternoon sun beating down into your home on summer afternoons can raise the temperature significantly and just like a cold home a hot and stuffy one is not ideal either. A good way to avoid this and make your home generally feel more comfortable is to ensure you have some high-quality window coverings, such as window blinds or shades. Lowering them before the afternoon sun is at its worst can help retain your home’s cool air and keep you from sweltering.

In addition to window coverings, you might also consider purchasing awnings or overhangs that you can install on your south-facing windows during the summer. You’ll give yourself some extra shade, and in the winter when you need that heat you can take them down.

Simple tips like the ones above can help you avoid the sticker shock that comes with receiving those summertime energy bills this year.

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