This post is sponsored by Evergy.
This is our first summer in our new home. This house is larger than our last one, and it’s already been a HOT, HOT Kansas City summer. I knew our energy bill would be higher, but I’m not sure we were prepared for how much higher. After seeing our first bill, I started researching some ways to save energy around the house. With some tips from Evergy, here is how we plan to incorporate energy saving habits into our routine.
Unplug electronics when not in use.
It’s no surprise that families with children tend to use more energy than those without. Energy use increases as kids get older due to the increased use of electronics – just another reason to limit screen time (although I’m not very good at this part of parenting).
Turn off lights and fans when you are not in the room and especially before you leave.
My kids are terrible about this one. I’m trying to make energy savings fun so my kids will learn good habits. Make a game out of it and see who can run around the house the fastest to turn all the lights off.
Set thermostat to 78 in the summer.
The U.S. Department of Energy suggests setting your thermostat no lower than 78 for cooling. I know most people set their homes thermostat well below this so this will be an adjustment. Some ways to manage that would be to have your ceiling fans circulating and lowering your shades during the daytime.
Use a programmable thermostat.
Consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat for added convenience. Thermostats with adaptive recovery can keep track of seasons, maintain your programmed schedule more closely, and maximize savings. Others can learn your schedule without being programmed at all and can make suggestions about how you can save energy.
Turn your thermostat higher when you’re away from home.
There’s no sense in paying for energy you aren’t using, so make sure to set your thermostat at a higher temperature when you leave. This is yet another great reason for a programmable thermostat that has a mobile app so you can do it while you’re out if you forget!
Clean or replace your air filters.
A dirty filter just makes you’re A/C units work harder…and we know Kansas City summer heat makes them work hard enough. Make sure to change them on a regular basis and consider getting a seasonal check up to make sure your system is working optimally.
Rethink summer dinners by using the oven less.
No one wants to turn on a hot oven during the summer, am I right? It only makes your house hotter and requires more energy than smaller appliances. Try using an air fryer or crockpot for quick and easy meals. Better yet, send the spouse outside with the kids and have them grill. If you truly do need to use the oven for a recipe – try cooking larger quantities for convenient meals throughout the week and avoid having to turn the oven often.
Switch out your light bulbs.
Did you know florescent light bulbs emit more heat than LEDs? Just another reason to switch to LED light bulbs around your home for energy efficiency and savings.
Turn off your computer when not in use.
I’m guilty of this one for sure. My computer is always on and always plugged in. This is a simple thing I can do when I’m done working for the day to reduce energy wast.
Reduce dryer usage when doing laundry.
With a family of 5, I am constantly doing laundry, which is a large part of energy usage in our home. Did you know the dryer uses more energy than any other appliance? I hang dry most of our clothes and wash mainly with cold water, both are easy ways to save energy. Evergy also suggests doing laundry first thing in the morning or late at night in the summer to avoid overheating your home and getting your clothes out of the dryer as soon as they are dry (no more running it 6 times to avoid folding).
