Cut Energy Costs this Summer
Burlington, VT
On hot summer days, stay cool while spending less on energy with these tips from Efficiency Vermont.
- Block the Heat. Caulk around window and exterior door frames and use weather stripping on exterior doors. When it’s hotter outside than inside, close your windows and draw window coverings against direct sunlight.
- Is the House Hotter than the Outdoors? Open your windows and use a window fan – blowing out. That will push out hot air and pull in cool air through other, nearby open windows.
- Control Moisture. Use your bath fan to remove shower heat and moisture. Don’t have a bath fan? Install a quiet, low-energy bath fan with the ENERGY STAR® Be sure to duct it to the outdoors to avoid creating moisture and mold problems. And if your kitchen fan exhausts to the outdoors, use it while cooking or baking.
- Adjust Your Schedule. When possible, use cooler evening hours for tasks that produce heat and/or moisture, like dishwashing, baking, laundry, showers, and baths.
- Cool Down Your Lights. Ninety percent of an incandescent light bulb’s energy is lost as heat. Replace those hot bulbs with ENERGY STAR labeled LEDs (light emitting diodes), which stay cooler and use about 80% less energy.
- Dry Clothes for Free. Hang laundry outside to dry. You’ll save the cost of running the clothes dryer while reducing moisture in the house.
- Using A/C? Keep heat out by seeing that there are no gaps along the sides of your window air conditioner or between window sashes. Clean your air conditioner filters regularly and keep the front and back of air conditioners unobstructed.
- Buying an Air Conditioner? Get the smallest ENERGY STAR labeled unit appropriate for the size of the room you’re cooling. Too big a model costs more to run and can make a room uncomfortably clammy because oversized equipment can’t remove humidity well. Search for “"Properly Sized Room AC" at energystar.gov to find the right size for you.
- Save Even More A/C Energy. A ductless heat pump unit is a tremendous energy saver for both cooling and heating. Find out if a heat pump is right for you at efficiencyvermont.com/heatpump.
- Insulate & Air Seal. An insulated, air-sealed house stays warmer in winter AND cooler in summer. A Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor can do a whole-house assessment and make improvements, now or over time, within your budget. Rebates and financing are available. Learn more at efficiencyvermont.com/homeperformance.
- Considering Efficient Windows? They do a great job of increasing comfort but the purchase price is rarely paid back by energy savings. So, it makes financial sense to invest in efficient windows only when you’re replacing a non-functional window or if you’re putting a window in a space for the first time. Otherwise, you can make your windows perform nearly as well as new ones but at a fraction of the cost. Replace cracked panes and any cracked or missing glazing, run a bead of caulk around window frames, and use easily installed Low-E storm windows.
- Shopping for a Home? After a mortgage, energy bills are often a homeowner’s biggest monthly expense. Learn how to tell if the homes you’re considering are efficient finds or budget busters at efficiencyvermont.com/tips-tools. Select “Guides” and click on “Home buying with efficiency in mind”.
- Have Questions? Contact Efficiency Vermont’s Customer Support team with any questions about your energy use and to get tips to help you take control of your energy bills. Call 888-921-5990 or send an email to [email protected].
About Efficiency Vermont
As the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont has helped Vermont avoid over 13.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for the last eight consecutive years. Efficiency Vermont works with partners to help our state transition to more affordable, low carbon energy use through education, incentives, and support for our clean energy workforce. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com.
Efficiency Vermont Press Contact
Matthew Smith
Phone: (802) 540-7662
[email protected]