You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.

Cut those summer utility bills with 5 simple tips

By Keith A. Paul

Hi Keith,

This has been a pretty hot summer so far. My utility bills seem higher than this time last year. I am struggling to keep my costs down. I am trying to save to move into a larger house next year. This summer’s air-conditioning bill is not helping. What recommendations do you have to help beat the heat, and the cost?

— Sheri E., Ann Arbor

Hi Sheri,

As it has been said, wait a minute and the Michigan weather will change, right? Some 150 days ago, the high was 36 degrees, and last week temperatures soared over 100. Mother Nature has no plan in sight either, as it hasn’t been this hot for this long of a period of time since 1995.

The good news is that there are a variety of tips that can help save you some energy costs to help save for your future home. Here are five tips to help get you through.

2011-07-28_09-59-04_382.jpg

Photo by Ray Smith

1. In the evening, use a whole house fan to draw in fresh cooler air. You can also use a bigger style fan, like a box fan, in front of your screen door to pull in the comfortable night air and push the warmer air out.

2. In the morning, close your shades. Keep them closed during the day, particularly on the east and west sides of your home. This will help keep the sun’s heat out and trap last night’s cooler air in. My wife and I do this at our home. At the point the inside temperature starts to rise, we open the windows and let in the cooler evening air.

3. Keep the air circulating throughout your home. Use your ceiling fans. This will cause a cooling effect when you are in the room. According to energystar.gov, be sure your ceiling fans are blowing air downward or counterclockwise. You can also try turning just the thermostat fan on (not the air-conditioning setting) to help circulate air all the way through the entire house.

4. Don’t use major appliances during the hottest hours of the day. DTE Energy encourages you to use them at cooler times when the heat they produce can be offset, especially dryers, dishwashers and ovens.

Dyers put heat and humidity in the air. When I was younger, in the summer my mother would do the laundry on Saturday mornings and hang the clothes out to dry on the clothesline. It’s not a bad idea if you have the time, even if you can only try it with one or two of your week’s loads.

Try skipping the dry cycle on your dishwasher, opening it up and letting your dishes rack dry. This will not only save the energy it takes to dry it, but also the energy it takes to remove the heat and humidity it produces in your home.

5. When preparing dinner, use your outdoor grill, microwave, crock pot or make dinners that do not require cooking, like a healthful sandwich. Avoid using your oven as much as possible. The oven heats up the house and works against what your air conditioner is trying to do. You use twice as much energy this way.

With a couple little changes each day, you will see your energy cost dropping little by little. Good luck in saving for your new home.

Paul is a State of Michigan Licensed Builder. Paul serves as president and founding member of nationally franchised HandyPro Handyman Service, servicing Washtenaw, Wayne and Oakland counties. www.handypro.com. Listen to Paul every Saturday at 11 a.m. on “It’s Your Business, Make It Happen” WAAM Talk 1600AM. Email questions or comments to kpaul@handypro.com.

Comments

Lola

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 10:03 p.m.

So let me get this straight; she's worried about an unaffordable electric bill and wants to move into a bigger house where her electric bill will probably be even higher? Something doesn't make sense here.

RunsWithScissors

Sat, Jul 30, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.

Fabricated question. It happens all the time.

sbbuilder

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 9:28 p.m.

When we were kids, we used to put ice cubes on our chests at night while lying in bed (no AC back then). You can come up with the darndest things when you have to.

Keith A. Paul

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.

Too funny!

dading dont delete me bro

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.

hope that guy in the picture w/pickaxe has an hvac refridgerant evactuation license...he's gonna release lots of refridgerant into the atomosphere..unless he's got something else in mind. i've never seen it recovered that way.

Craig Lounsbury

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.

#6. When your neighbor goes on vacation run an extension cord to his outdoor outlet and use his electricity. #7. when you go on vacation shut off the power to your outdoor outlet so he doesn't return the favor.

treetowncartel

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 8:47 p.m.

Or do like my neighbors have done, and bypass the meter, putting an extension cord off of the wire at the pole. can't believe they risk life and limb to do that.

tdw

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 8:35 p.m.

You got me laughing on that one

Brian Kuehn

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.

Ha, ha ha! I will be heading out to the hardware store to get a long extension cord this evening. Great tips.