I recently spent five days with family in Rhode Island, where I grew up. While I thought it would be much cooler there it really wasn’t. The day I flew out it was 94 degrees but felt even hotter than that because central air is the exception there rather than the rule. Even window units are not common. Most rely on ceiling fans, open windows and a season long avoidance to using the oven.

All of this got me thinking about what I take for granted in my temperature controlled life.  But it also got me thinking about both energy conservation and energy efficiency. With the help of Google, I put together some helpful tips on summer time energy saving that I have already begun to implement myself:

• One of the most surprising things I learned was from the California’s Energy Commission website which states, “Having lots of food in your fridge keeps it from warming up too fast when the door is open. So your fridge doesn’t have to work as hard to stay cool.” (I love to eat, so I actually found this to be good news!)
• They also suggest, as my northern friends already know, not to use your oven.
• One other trick used by my northern cohorts- they close blinds, drapes/shades during the hottest part of the day which prevents sunlight from heating their homes.

Of the different websites I visited on this topic, which I have listed for you below, almost all of them recommend that if you have central air conditioning adjust your thermostat to 78 degrees. Approximately six to seven percent can be saved off your cooling costs for each degree above 78.  No need to keep an empty house cool during the day and in the evenings, supplement with ceiling fans and room fans which require much less energy.

Not many homeowners realize this but make sure you have your ceiling fans going in the correct direction. In the summer you want the blades to go counter clockwise, so they actually circulate cooling air. In the fall, move the switch to clockwise so that they help to push down the warm air that naturally rises.

One secret to cooling off that our northern friends have yet to discover is delicious ice cold sweet tea. Not just good for cooling down, but good all the time! Grab some and check out these great sites for more on this topic:

Consumer Energy Center

NSTAR: Spring/Summer Energy Saving Tips

Alliance to Save Energy: Summer Tips

Environmental Protection Agency: Cooling Tips for Every Budget this Summer