Fred Harteis News Articles - Summer means fun in the sun, kids out of school and big power bills.
The air conditioning that makes summer livable in many parts of the country comes at a steep price. According to EPA statistics, "heating and cooling costs make up 49 percent of the average energy bill," says Maria Vargas, spokeswoman for the EPA's Energy Star program.
But there are a few ways that you can keep your cool without a sky-high power bill.
"The real opportunity for people to save the most is through improved efficiency in the home," says Vargas. "The average family spends $1,900 a year on energy bills."
Homeowners can save 30 percent of that just by being more efficient with their energy use, she says.
So enjoy the lazy summer days without getting crazy over the bills. Here's how.
1. Use a programmable thermostat. Consumers buy them and even install them. The one thing they often neglect to do? Program and use them, says Vargas.
2. Enjoy more summer fare. Skip cooking and you not only save time, you also don't heat up the house. Grill out, cook twice the amount you normally would and save the extra for the next night's heat-free meal, says Debra Ponzek, co-author of "The Summer House Cookbook."
3. Insulate your attic door. Everyone remembers to insulate the attic, but no one remembers the attic door. "The attic door was pulling heat," says Carole Koble, The solution is easy and fairly inexpensive, she says. You can pick up specially designed, ready-to-hang insulators made of hard or flexible plastic foam for about $125.
4. Low-tech, low-cost savings. Not every solution has to be complicated.
5. Use ceiling fans. They make a room feel cooler by keeping the air moving. While the amount of savings is tough to quantify, use them with a slightly higher temperature on the thermostat to make the house feel just as cool, says Vargas. But don't run them when the room is empty. They make you feel cooler by moving the air, but they don't actually change the temperature.
6. Create an outside oasis. One way to lessen the need for air conditioning? Get outside. First, create a cool, green haven. Use trellises with fast-climbing plants -- along with native trees and plants to give your area a lush feel. If you don't want to wait for trees to grow, consider hiring a pro to install larger trees. The trade-off: money for growing time.
7. Replace old air conditioning units. Because of new technology and standards, "the difference in what you can buy today is dramatic in terms of energy savings," says Vargas. So if a unit is 12 or more years old, consider getting a newer version.
8. Opt for energy-efficient appliances. As you replace old washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and the like, look for the EPA's Energy Star rating on your new goods. A clothes washer with the designation will save up to 50 percent in water and power over a machine that doesn't carry the label, says Vargas. A new dishwasher will use about $30 less power annually than a pre-1994 model, she says. And in many cases, you can also get rebates from state or local governments and utilities and, in some cases, qualify for federal tax credits.
9. Plant a few trees. In addition to improving your property value, trees give you a nice return on your summer (and winter) power bills. Select deciduous trees (which drop leaves in the fall) for the sun-prone sides of the house, often the south and east, says Koble. "The cooling effect is pretty major," she says.
10. Support your local parks. A green space with trees can bring down the temperatures for an entire city area, says Joan Steurer, air quality planner for Mid-America Regional Council, a planning body for the Kansas City metro area. And "what cools the city benefits the individual," she says.
11. Consider solar solutions. You can start simple with a small area or a water heater. The dollars you save and the energy you generate can offset those months when you want to run more air.
12. Go online. You can do your own personal home energy audit at http://hes.lbl.gov.
You can calculate exactly how much a new energy efficient refrigerator would slice from your bill at www.energystar.gov or find out if the federal government will give you a tax credit for replacing home appliances or cars with more energy efficient models at http://www.ase.org/taxcredits.
Source; Bankrate.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
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