Preferred Financial Services reviews some easy ways to save money on your summer utility bills…
Andover, Massachusetts June 22nd 2010 — If you are like most households in the US, the summer months tend to increase your utility bills as everyone tries to stay cool and more time is spent at home due to school vacations and those much needed vacation days. Although it is almost impossible to eliminate the entire rise there are some easy to follow steps you can take as a homeowner or renter to reduce your monthly electric bills.
Many of these tips will seem obvious to most of you but for many these simple tips are often forgotten during the heat of the summer. The most obvious but also the hardest place to lower your bills is on your home cooling strategy. If you have an AC or even an army of fans in your home, you know that whenever these run the amount of power your home is using skyrockets. But, you can easily cut the time in half if you close and lower the blinds at all your windows during the hottest parts of the day. By doing this, you are able to lock in the cool air from the night before and minimize the amount of direct sunlight and heat your home takes in during the day. As the sun sets, open all your windows and utilize fans and air conditioners as needed. When you are planning out your meal schedule for the week (look for a separate blog post in the future on this) try to minimize your use of the oven or stove. Although you might not think the heat given off by these is significant, it has been shown to increase the use of fans and air conditioners which obviously increase your bills. Use a grill outside and you not only save money but can also enjoy a burger from the grill instead of the pan.
When you are looking at your entertainment rooms in your home there are many places to save money. If you are in the market for new appliances or entertainment products consider and look for Energy Star rated products as these use the least amount of energy. Keep in mind that any electronic device that is plugged into a power outlet uses power even when not in use. Use a Smart Power Strip as these shut off the electric current between your outlet and your device thus saving you money.
Some longer term ideas that increase the efficiency of your home should also be considered as these can lead to larger and longer lasting benefits. Using CFL bulbs not only drops your energy bill but they also last much longer, decreasing your overall consumption. Installing new energy efficient windows can slice up to 30% off your utility bills as they trap more cool air and keep out more hot air during the steamy summer months. And if you are really feeling up to a challenge consider planting new trees and vegetation around your home. The more shade your home is in, the less power is needed to cool it.
I hope these tips have opened your eyes to some easy money saving strategies as well as more long term ideas that you could start planning for. Do you already utilize some of these strategies? Have you said goodbye to your air conditioner over the past few years? I’d love to hear some strategies you have used to lower your power bill each summer!
Preferred Financial Services is a debt reduction firm certified by the CFC (Center for Financial Certifications) and accredited by U.S.O.B.A. (United States Organizations for Bankruptcy Alternatives). Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Preferred Financial Services has been a leader in the debt reduction industry since 2003. Preferred Financial Services has acquired some of the best experience in the industry over the past 7 years. In 2009 alone Preferred Financial Services reduced over $16.5 million worth of consumer debt for just $6.4 million, for a savings of about 60%- and over 2,900 accounts were settled on behalf of their clients.
For more information, please visit www.pfsdebtrelief.com or follow us on our blog at www.pfsdebtrelief.com/blog/ .
Contact:
Stephan Tavernini
