Save on electricity

As we're going through one of the hottest summers on record, keeping the AC cool and the electric bills under control is on everyone's mind. Here are 7 cheap and easy tips to make your house more energy efficient.

1. Weatherstrip your doors and windows. Check your exterior doors for any air leaks. Or during the day check for light coming in around the jamb. You can block up these areas with easy to use peel-and-stick rubber weatherstripping. Be sure to get an approximate measurement of the hole to be filled as it's sold in different widths.
2. Check your attic vents. If you have fixed vents that don't move, make sure they are clear of debris. If you have the rotating, or "whirlybird" kind, check them when there is a breeze to make sure that they are operating properly. If they don't move, have someone inspect or you can check them out yourself. Usually if they're not moving it's because of rust so bring some WD40 up with you.
3. Use ceiling fans. If you have them, use them. They keep the air circulated so your AC unit doesn't have to run as long.
4. Turn lights off. Your lights, especially halogen, give off a large amount of heat. If you don't need the lights on in one part of the house, turn them off. It'll save you on the energy to keep the light on and on keeping the house cool.
5. Use blinds and drapes. Blocking some of the sunlight during the day from coming right into your house can help a lot toward keeping your AC running to a minimum.

These tips are all easy to do and should really help to lower your cooling costs. Let me know if you have any questions.