Temperatures might be warming up, but home energy bills don’t have to head for the rafters during summer months. Cooling a house accounts for about 50 percent of energy use during the summer. The good news is there are several easy, low- or no-cost strategies to reduce the bill.
Knowing how to efficiently operate a thermostat can play a role in decreasing anyone’s energy bill. One of the simplest strategies is to set the thermostat to 78 degrees.
While family is at work or sleeping, adjust the thermostat even higher. Do the same if you’re going to be away from the house for extended periods. Programmable thermostats can make controlling temperature easy.
It helps if a house is equipped with ceiling fans because it can boost the thermostat about 4 degrees F without losing any comfort. Just remember fans cool people, not rooms. Turn them off when leaving the room.
Also, make sure furniture or other items are not interfering with airflow from the registers. Be mindful of placing items such as lamps and televisions near the thermostat. If the thermostat picks up the heat from appliances and electronics, it could cause the air conditioner to run longer.
Keep in mind, turning the thermostat to a colder-than-normal setting could negatively affect the energy bill. The house won’t cool any faster, and it may end up making it too cold which inflates energy costs.
Two more energy-saving strategies include sealing leaky doors, windows, cracks or other openings, as well as cutting down on activities that may generate heat in the home.
Use a microwave, grill or the stovetop to cook meals on hot days rather than turning on the oven. Even stereos, televisions and computers contribute heat in the house. Be mindful of activities such as running the dishwasher or doing laundry which contribute to summertime home energy use. Dry clothes on a clothesline to increase savings.
Finally, consider installing window coverings such as drapes, blinds or awnings to block the heat. According to www.energy.gov, window treatments can lower energy use and be less expensive than buying new energy-efficient windows.
Interested in home canning?
In the last several years, with the emergence of gardening and organic growing, home canning has seen a renewed interest. Pressure canners have been modified from 50 years ago to sustain normal use with accuracy and few kitchen catastrophes. Interested in canning? Want to learn how to water bath salsa, fruit or make jelly for holiday gifts? Pressure canning is used for most vegetables to include green beans, potatoes and tomatoes. If interested, contact the Washington County extension office by phone at 918-534-2216 or email Mills at firstname.lastname@example.org. Include name, phone number and e-mail (if available) and what form of canning interested in to determine if there is enough interest to hold a local class.
For those able, the office in Tulsa, at 4116 E. 15th Street, is offering three classes for a cost of $25 on June 20, July 10 and Aug. 16. All classes will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register, call 918-746-3706 or visit oces.tulsacounty.org.