As Nova Scotians, we wait for—and dream of—summer all year round. The ocean swims, family vacations, and long summer nights keep us warm through the winter, but what about when the heat waves start to roll in?
As the temperature goes up, you can keep your power bill down with these tips to beat the heat while saving energy.
Keep the sun out by closing your blinds
This may seem obvious, and it's great to see the beautiful sky through your windows, but when the sun shines into your home, it heats up the air inside making you warmer. By closing your blinds and curtains, you can block the sun’s rays and help keep the temperature more comfortable in your home.
Turn off your fan when you’re not in the room
Fans are a great way to help you stay cool—but remember, they work by cooling the skin, not the air in a room. Fans move the air which helps to evaporate moisture on the surface of the skin, making you feel cooler. Since fans don’t change the air temperature, you can turn it off when you're not in the room.
Use an outdoor grill instead of indoor appliances
Did someone say BBQ?! Take advantage of the beautiful weather and test out your grilling skills. When you use your oven during extremely hot days, it causes the indoor temperature to rise, making your AC more tempting. Skip the AC and save energy by firing up your outdoor grill.
Turn down your cooling systems when you’re away from home
If you're heading out for the day or a vacation, give your cooling system a well-deserved break and set the system a a few degrees higher than usual—completely turning off your AC doesn’t save your energy as it takes longer to cool down your home again when you return. And don't forget! Be mindful of the temperature if you share your space with pets.
For more ways to save money and energy, check out Efficiency Nova Scotia—they are the provincial provider of energy saving programs and services for Nova Scotians.
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