Tropical Storm Fay may be giving us a bit of a downpour right now, but that won’t last. Before you know it, hotter Westfield temperatures will set in. When that happens, energy usage and expense tend to go up. Try these easy, helpful ways to save money on your energy costs this summer.

Save Money on Summertime Energy Costs

Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats make it easy to regulate the temperature in your Westfield home. Set it at a higher temperature when everybody leaves the house. Then, about 10 to 15 minutes before you arrive back, set it to start cooling down to a more comfortable level. For every one degree you raise your temperature, you end up saving anywhere between 3% and 5% on your air conditioning costs. So, instead of living in an icebox the entire summer, set it to the highest temperature you feel comfortable and save some money.

Ceiling Fans

Fun fact: ceiling fans don’t actually cool down a room. Instead, they circulate the air. When the air blows on your skin, you feel much cooler. They also cost much less to operate than an air conditioning unit. Thus, adding a ceiling fan to your room allows you to still feel cool even if you raise the temperature on your thermostat.

Shut Off Unused Rooms

Another easy way to save money on your energy costs this summer is to close the doors to and air vents in the rooms you don’t regularly use. Guest rooms. Guest bathrooms. Do this to any room you rarely use. This reduces the area your air conditioner needs to cool off inside your Westfield home. It also reduces the amount of work your air conditioner has to put in to cool it off. By default, this helps to extend the life of your air conditioning unit, too.

Windows and Doors

Cracked seals around your windows? Sun shining through an exterior door where it shouldn’t? Time to break out the caulking and weatherstripping. If your windows are beyond repair, it might be time to upgrade to newer, more energy-efficient windows. Also, close any blinds, drapes, or shades that face the sun. This reduces the amount of heat entering your home through the windows and lowers the strain on your fans and air conditioner.

Update Appliances

Take advantage of summertime holiday sales to update any outdated appliances. Look for the Energy Star logo for the most energy-efficient models. That includes replacing (or getting rid of altogether) that old refrigerator you keep in the garage for extra food storage.

Exterior Lighting

Do you leave your exterior lights on all night long to deter would-be burglars? That costs money. Instead, install motion detectors around the exterior of your Westfield house. Then, they only turn on if movement sets it off…which is really the only time you need it.

Unplug Where Possible

Finally, save money on your summertime energy costs (and any other time of the year) by unplugging anything you aren’t using at the moment. Even an unused coffee pot in the “off” position uses some electricity when it’s plugged into the wall. The same goes for TVs, computers, phone chargers, lamps, and other electronic devices. Use power strips in your bedrooms, office, living room, and kitchen. Then, all you need to do is turn off the power strip to shut off power to multiple electronic devices at one time. By doing so, you could save as much as 10% on your electric bill.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes