The hot summer weather can make a lot of utility bills. It is good to have some strategies to help save money on cooling your home. Here are some ideas!
Adjust Your Thermostat
Raising your thermostat by just a few degrees—especially when you’re not home—can make a noticeable difference in your energy bill. Aim for 78°F when you’re home and higher when you’re away. A programmable or smart thermostat makes this easier by automatically adjusting temperatures based on your schedule.
Use Fans Strategically
Ceiling and portable fans don’t lower the temperature, but they do make you feel cooler by improving air circulation. This lets you rely less on air conditioning. Remember to turn fans off when you leave the room to save energy.
Block the Heat
Sunlight streaming through windows can quickly heat up your home. Keep blinds or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day, especially on south- and west-facing windows. Blackout curtains or reflective window film can offer extra insulation.
Avoid Heat-Producing Appliances
Appliances like ovens, stoves, and dryers add unwanted heat inside your home. Choose meals that don’t require much cooking—think salads, grilling outdoors, or using a slow cooker. Try hanging clothes to dry instead of running the dryer.
Switch to LED Lighting
Traditional incandescent bulbs generate a lot of heat and use more energy. Replacing them with energy-efficient LED bulbs helps keep rooms cooler and lowers your electric bill.
Seal and Insulate
Small air leaks around doors, windows, and vents can let cool air escape. Use weather stripping or caulk to seal gaps and keep your home insulated. It’s a low-cost way to boost efficiency and comfort.
Run Appliances at Off-Peak Times
If your energy provider charges different rates throughout the day, try running dishwashers, laundry machines, and other large appliances in the early morning or late evening to save money.
Maintain Your Cooling System
An air conditioner running at peak efficiency uses less energy. Clean or replace filters regularly, and have your system serviced at the beginning of the season to catch any issues early.
Stay Smart About Water Use
Hot water heaters can be a hidden energy drain. Use cold water when you can—like for laundry—and shorten showers to conserve both energy and water.
Get Outside
One of the simplest ways to use less energy in summer is to spend more time outdoors. Read on the porch, cook outside, or enjoy evening walks—all without touching your thermostat.
These are great tips. I open my windows in the morning for several hours and then close them before it gets hot. This keeps the house cooler.
I need to get some blackout curtains for the summer. We are in Texas so it gets super hot here. I also have fans going!
Thank you for these practical and eco-friendly summer energy-saving tips! I especially appreciate the reminder to use fans strategically and to seal and insulate our homes to prevent cool air from escaping. The suggestion to cook outdoors or use a slow cooker is a great way to keep the kitchen cool while saving energy. Your advice is both accessible and effective, making it easier to stay comfortable during the hot months without increasing our energy bills.
The suggestion to cook outdoors or use a slow cooker is a great way to keep the kitchen cool while saving energy. Your advice is both accessible and effective, making it easier to stay comfortable during the hot months without increasing our energy bills.
I love anything that will help me save energy and money for this summer season. Thank you for these tips!
Loving these tips so much and we do follow many of them listed here. We have changed everything over to LED when it comes to lighting and we always keep the thermostat higher when we are not home and in the winter… we always let it go low at night and have the thermostat come back on an hour before we wake so it warms up. I also use cold water for my laundry and it helps too. Thanks for the money saving tips…. no matter what….I am all about being savvy!
These are great tips on how to keep the costs down in summer. Here in the UK we don’t really have cooling systems in the house, and air conditioning is quite rare in homes. So we are saving a lot of money – compared to winter, when the bills are so high due to heating.
I really appreciate the practical advice, especially about using fans and avoiding the oven. I’m definitely going to try grilling more and sealing up those drafty windows. Every little bit helps during these hot summer months!
we have smaller fans now that take less energy than the AC and use them on those really hot days..
Yes to switching the LED and inverters. We also make sure to clean our AC regularly because it really makes a difference.
Anyway, I am going to take your advice and use blackout curtains too.