7 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat in Your NJ Real Estate Home

What you can do to stay cool in your NJ Real Estate home while saving money

According to reports published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the eight warmest years on record (since 1880) have all occurred since 2001, with the warmest year being 2005. Despite this fact, keeping cool this summer does not need to cost you a ton of money or require you to consistently run the air conditioner in your NJ Real Estate home. Advancements such as compact fluorescent light bulbs and programmable thermostats allow us to efficiently keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter while using the least amount of energy.

Below you will find 7 ways to keep cool this summer with just some small modifications to your daily schedule:

  1. Purchase a programmable thermostat

    Heating and cooling your NJ Real Estate home can be one of the biggest expenses associated with daily living. Digital thermostats can be programmed on a timer to automatically decrease the temperature in your home while you are away and increase the temperature before you arrive home. The cost of this item starts at approximately $50, but can save you anywhere from 10-20% on your heating and cooling bills annually when used correctly, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

  2. Know when to use your appliances

    Heat-generating appliances only add to the temperature of your NJ Real Estate home, and increase your monthly utility bills. Examples of this include using the oven to bake or a dryer to dry clothes. The best way to avoid increasing your cooling costs by 2 to 5% each month is to try to use appliances later on in the day when heat subsides.

  3. Use a fan

    Electric fans have been around since the 1880’s. A fan, which costs between 2 and 5 cents per hour to operate, can cool a room from 4 to 6 degrees. In addition, a fan or ceiling fan works well in conjunction with an air conditioner by circulating the dry air provided by the air conditioner. You may also want to consider purchasing a whole-house fan for your NJ Real Estate home to cool your entire home during the night time when your windows are open. These types of fans can decrease your monthly cooling costs by as much as 50%.

  4. Increase the temperature on your thermostat

    For NJ Real Estate homes with central air, a great money-saving idea is to set your thermostat to above 78 degrees. For example, by setting your thermostat to 80 degrees, you can save anywhere from 10 to 15% on your monthly utility bill. If you plan on being out of your home for an hour or more, the higher you can set the thermostat will save you that much more. When you return, it will take no more than 15 minutes for your home to cool down.

  5. Seal leaks and open spaces

    Weather stripping and caulk are the easiest and most inexpensive ways to save up to 10% off your NJ Real Estate energy bills. Open cracks and crevices around windows and doors let in air you want to keep out of your home and result in heating and cooling systems working harder to keep the home at your desired temperature.

  6. Keep curtains and blinds closed on hot days

    The heat from the sun radiates through the windows, adding as much as 20% of heat to your house and making your air conditioner run longer. Window coverings create barriers between the outdoor heat and your home, therefore lowering your electric bill. Close the blinds or curtains in the rooms on the sunny side of your home and rooms that you do not use regularly.

  7. Change your light bulbs

    The typical incandescent bulbs found in most homes can also contribute to the heat generated in a room, therefore raising the temperature. Compact fluorescent bulbs use are a much better lighting choice as they use 75% less energy and give off 90% less heat.

 

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