Summer Tips for Improving Your House’s Ecology and Economy
1. Plant different bulbs….light bulbs.
A standard incandescent 60-watt light bulb produces about the same amount of light as a 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulb. Only 10%-15% of the electricity incandescent light bulbs consume ends up as light; the remainder is put out as heat. You really don’t need to add heat to your summer, and during the winter those bulbs are an inefficient way to heat things up. Switch to a compact fluorescent bulb and you will save 45-watts and end up producing a lot less heat. Remember also to keep your lamps away from thermostats or air conditioning units. The added heat in the area around them can cause false readings that will cause them to over-cool your space. You can go green, save green and stay cool with this one little change.
2. Make sure the AC is in A-1 Shape
Have your air conditioning unit maintained. Most home maintenance experts suggest maintenance every six months. At the very least, before the summer heats up, make sure it’s working. (Likewise, during the summer months is a great time to have your furnace maintained.) It is much easier to find someone to maintain your air conditioning when it’s cool outside, than to find someone to repair it during a heatwave. Having to pay for weekend repairs or out of normal service times will cost you more money. A properly maintained unit will also use less electricity. Again, this is a case of going green and saving green…
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