It's getting near summertime, and while the livin' might be easy, keeping your home cool and your energy bill in check will take a little more effort. So we've collected some energy-saving tips to help you focus on relaxing and enjoying the sunny season.
Close your curtains
Or your blinds, or shades, or shutters—whatever covers your windows. Yes, an action that simple can make an appreciable difference in your energy use, and yet the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 75 percent of window coverings in our homes stay in the same position every day. The result can be unwanted solar gain, a technical term for how much an object or room heats up due to the absorption of the sun's radiation. So get into the habit: During the day, keep the windows that receive direct sun covered; before turning in for the night, cover those that will be the first to receive sun from the east in the morning.
Give your oven a rest
While it isn't your kitchen's biggest energy gobbler—that's your refrigerator—your oven is an appliance you can choose not to use. And in summer, leaving it off helps in two ways, saving the energy it takes to run it and preventing it from heating up your kitchen and making your air conditioning have to work harder. So whenever possible this summer, go oven-free: Use your stovetop, microwave, or air fryer, all of which typically run on less energy than an oven. Or take advantage of the warm weather and get dinner going on the grill. Your home will stay cooler, and—while this part may not be scientifically proven—your food may well taste better, too.
Flip on the fan
If you raise your thermostat by just two degrees and use your ceiling fan to stay cool, you can lower your air-conditioning costs by up to 14 percent, according to the EPA's Energy Star program. "Remember to make sure your fans are spinning in the right direction: counterclockwise in the summer for maximum cooling effect, and clockwise come winter to help distribute warm air throughout the room," says Dan DiClerico, home improvement and outdoor director at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Also, keep in mind that ceiling fans just make the room feel cooler; they don't actually lower its temperature. The breeze they create helps evaporate sweat from your skin, creating a wind-chill effect. Plus, fans redistribute cold air (which tends to settle) so it circulates around your face, not the floor, again providing a cooling effect on you but not the space. All of which means that when no one's in the room, they're not having any effect on anyone's comfort level—so turn them off and save that extra bit of electricity.
Upgrade to a heat pump to keep cool
Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to both heat and cool your home. They work by transporting warm air—moving it indoors in the winter and transferring it to the outdoors in the summer. There are many options out there these days, but after running multiple models through their paces, the expert engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute awarded the Trane XV20i Variable Speed Heat Pump with Trane Link a Good Housekeeping Home Renovation Award.
The industry standout delivers both precision and efficiency. It continually monitors the weather outside, taking into account fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels. Then it slows down or speeds up accordingly, so you're always using the minimum amount of energy required while keeping your home's temperature to within half a degree of your chosen set point. "And besides delivering optimal performance, the variable-speed motor is extremely quiet," says DiClerico. "You'll appreciate that during those hot summer months when the system is running full-tilt."
You can also pair the heat pump, via the company's Trane Link connectivity technology, with a Trane Link UX360 Smart Thermostat. It gives you an extra measure of control over your comfort—you can monitor and adjust the temperature from your smartphone, which means you always decide how much energy you use.
Change filters frequently
Trane's heating and cooling systems are some of the most energy-efficient available today, according to DiClerico, and you can ensure that they're always working at peak performance by replacing your air filters at least once every 30 to 90 days. Not only will that improve indoor air quality by helping your system effectively capture common irritants and allergens like dust, pollen, and pet dander, but it can lower your energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent, according to the company.
