How To Cut Your Energy Costs This Summer

Use These Simple Tips to Help Save Some Money!

With the price of nearly everything from gas to the grocery store, and in-between, rising this summer, we’re all looking for ways to keep our household costs down and our budgets under control.

Advanced Propane can help with exactly that by offering pricing and payment options that allow you to manage your propane costs. We’ve got several ways that fit both your needs and budget!

We’ve also put together this list of ways you can cut energy costs around your home to put a little less pressure on your wallet:

1. Change How You Do Laundry

The easiest way to cut your laundry energy costs is to reduce the usage of your washer and dryer. Only do full loads as often as you can. Wash in cold water. Air- or line-dry laundry if possible.

Further, making these changes can also cut your cooling costs as your washer and dryer can inadvertently heat up your home and cause your air conditioning to cycle more frequently.

2. Change How You Wash Dishes

Have you ever said to yourself, “This is just a few dishes, I’ll wash them by hand, so I don’t have to run the dishwasher”? If so, you’re making a mistake when it comes to energy efficiency—as well as environmental friendliness. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you use about 75% less water when you wash a full load in the dishwasher rather than washing dishes by hand. You’ll also use less hot water and can cut your water heating costs by about $130 a year!

Want even more energy savings from your dishwasher? Use air drying instead of heated drying.

3. Cut Your Cooking Energy Costs

There are several ways to keep your kitchen cool and lower your energy costs. Don’t use your range—especially your oven—during the day. If you need to use your oven, do it in the morning before 10 a.m. or in the evening after the sun goes down. Otherwise, use small appliances such as multicookers, air fryers, rice cookers, microwaves, and slow cookers. Additionally, you can take your cooking outside with your propane grill!

4. Change Your Lighting

Did you know that only 10% to 15% of the energy used by incandescent light bulbs goes towards actual lighting? By switching to LED bulbs for your home’s lighting, you can cut your lighting energy costs by about $225 per year.

5. Adjust Your Water Heating

Most water heaters are set by the manufacturer to 140° Fahrenheit. That is unnecessarily hot. It also increases your energy costs—as well as the risk of scalding, especially for children and the elderly.
Set your water heater to 120° instead and you can cut your water heating costs by about 10%. As a reminder: If you’re going on vacation, set your water heater to its “vacation” or “low” setting!

6. Install a Programmable or “Smart” Thermostat

With programmable or smart thermostats, you’ll be able to better control your cooling costs if your home has central A/C. Smart thermostats allow you to check and adjust your home’s HVAC system from your phone anywhere you have a wireless or cellular signal. This gives you greater control over areas in your home that are essential to be cooled, rather than waste energy on unused spaces…especially if no one is home!

7. Take Care of Your Home’s Air Conditioning System

Have you had a professional maintenance tune-up of your home’s central A/C or ductless mini-splits yet? If not, you’re likely losing money in part to decreased efficiency.

Keep your home’s air conditioning running at its peak efficiency while helping to prevent costly breakdowns with a professional tune-up at least once a year.

8. Unplug Appliances When Not In Use

You likely have many energy “vampires” around your home—otherwise known as electronics and small appliances that suck up energy when they’re not in use.

Examples of energy vampires include coffee makers, toasters, electric toothbrushes, phone chargers, and toaster ovens. If you’re heading out on vacation, make sure to unplug all these before you leave!

9. Stop Drafts

You may associate drafts with winter, but they can drive up energy costs in the summer too! After all, no one wants cooled air sucked right out of their home!

Make getting rid of drafts a weekend DIY project with caulk, weatherstripping, and insulating foam.

10. Change Your HVAC Filters

A clogged air filter can dramatically reduce the efficiency of your air conditioning system, while also damaging internal parts that cause breakdowns. Check the filters once a month—more frequently if you have pets—and change as needed.

Advanced Propane sells, installs, and maintains high-efficiency propane appliances that can make a positive impact on your home’s energy costs! Contact us to get started on adding them to your home or for a FREE no-obligation estimate.