As the summer continues to heat up it’s time to try some energy saving tips to keep those cooling costs down. It’s not hard to cut your electric costs this summer if you follow these very simple steps around the house.
A study conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Heat Island Group in 1999 discovered that buildings with white roof tops used up to 40 percent less energy for cooling than homes with black roofs. According to current utility rates, you could save yourself $120 or more per year in home cooling costs. The reports mentioned that a whie elastomeric coating can be purchased at most hardware stores. Elastomeric coating is a special blend of polymers. The polymers are durable, flexible and waterproof. Additionally, they help prolong your roof’s life span and its water resistance. All you have to do is apply the compound to a heavy-duty paint roller.
Another great way to save energy is to do a nightly sweep of the house. Make sure everything is turned off that could be wasting electricity usage. Make sure all of the electrical items are switched off before you go to bed. This may be time consuming. The potential savings pile up quickly. Running one fluorescent light bulb through the night costs about $9 per year. Additionally, you’ll spend $21 for a conventional bulb and $35 for a big ceiling fan on high.
Also, have you considered upgrading your power strips? Energy.gov says that replacing your conventional power strips with advanced power strips can help reduce the electricity wasted when electronics are idle, without your having to change the way you normally use your devices.
Advanced Power Strips (APS) are designed for home entertainment centers and home office areas. These are the areas where most of your electronics are plugged in. There are several options and prices range for these modern strips. However, they could save you a lot of money!
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