July 27, 2007

Reducing Your Summer Utility Costs

By Kate Davey
Special to the Times

As the hot summer days are upon us, here are some ideas to help reduce your utility bills.

Plants. Strategically planted trees along your home's south and west exposure can shade your house from the direct sunlight, keeping your house cooler (and your electric bill lower). By choosing native or drought-tolerant plants, you can also reduce your water bill.

Ceiling fans and window treatments. Ceiling fans will circulate the air conditioning's cool air more efficiently, keeping a room cooler for longer. Also, air conditioning will not kick on as often when the windows are covered with drapes or blinds to block the warm outside air.

Insulation. Make sure the insulation in your attic is in good condition and the windows and doors are well caulked and sealed. These are places cold air can seep out.

Filters. Dirty air filters cause your air conditioning to work harder. You can reduce your cooling bill by changing the filters once a month.

Lighting. The longer daylight hours in the summer means your need for artificial light is reduced. So think twice before switching on the lights. Also, experiment with more energy efficient bulbs or three-way fixtures that allow you to use a lower wattage. Dimmer switches are another great way to reduce your electricity consumption. Consider putting your lights on a timer so you don't have to worry about making sure everything is turned off when you go to sleep.

Lawn care. Taller grasses require less water. So cutting your grass two to three inches high will actually reduce your water bills. When you do water your lawn, do it early in the morning. When watering in mid-day, you'll actually use more water as some of it evaporates and the rest is absorbed too quickly. In the evening, the grass stays moist for too long, which encourages lawn diseases.

Have a great summer!
I hope you find this information valuable. As always, it is my goal to ensure that your home owning experience is all you desire. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help make that a reality. And don't forget to call or email me when you have a real estate or home-related question. As your lifetime real estate resource, I am here to help!

Kate Davey & Associates offers a full array of Real Estate Services and information on every facet of the Real Estate Industry. From Selling to Buying a Home or from Home Improvement to Home Safety, Kate Davey & Associates provides a full concierge service. If you have a specific question, please call Kate at 408-497-5283 or email your question to:

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