Summer Tips for Staying Cool and Saving Money

With the summer season in full swing, it’s a perfect time to think about ways to reduce your home’s cooling costs. A typical household spends almost 20% of its utility bill on cooling, and by taking steps this summer to improve energy efficiency, you can save energy, save money and help fight climate change. Here are a few simple tips from the Energy Star program that can help you to start saving today:

Program your thermostat to work around your family’s summer schedule—set it a few degrees higher (such as 78 degrees) when no one is home, so your cooling system isn’t cooling an empty house. With proper use, programmable thermostats can save you about $180 a year in energy costs.

Check your HVAC system’s air filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, clean or change it (though disposable filters should be changed at least every three months). A dirty filter will slow air flow and make the system work harder to keep you cool, wasting energy. Green Irene carries several permanent filter options, including permanent rigid and permanent flexible HVAC air filters, and a pleated MERV 13 filter.

Run your ceiling fan to create a cool breeze. If you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. Remember that ceiling fans cool you, not the room, so when you leave the room make sure to turn off the fan.

For those with central air conditioning, a Cool-n-Save can help to save you up to 30% on your cooling bill. The device keeps the air surrounding your AC unit cooler, allowing it to work less and to work more efficiently.

Swap out incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient lighting choices. Energy Star qualified lighting not only uses less energy, it also produces about 75 percent less heat than incandescent lighting, so cooling bills will be reduced, too. Green Irene carries a full line of energy efficient lighting, including LED lighting options for chandeliers, where the larger number of bulbs can give off a lot of heat.

Your local Green Irene Eco-Consultant can provide you with many more tips for energy conservation in the summer months as part of a Green Home Makeover. They can also introduce you to many of the other products that Green Irene carries to help you and your family save money through energy conservation. With just a few steps, you can make a big difference in your utility bill and for the environment while keeping your home comfortable all summer long.

5 Tips for Improving Fuel Economy

With the summer holidays just around the corner, another driving season is rapidly approaching. Day-trips, beach outings, and family barbecues—not to mention family vacations—all increase the national demand for gasoline, pushing pump prices up even higher. Already the national average of regular gasoline is $2.73/gallon, up nearly 25 cents from last year. In the long term, the best answer will be to buy the most fuel efficient vehicles from your local car dealer. Fortunately, there are some simpler changes you can make right now to help you save big at the pump, without significantly impacting your lifestyle.

1. Choose the Most Fuel Efficient Vehicle for the Job

The average American household has between 2 and 3 cars, so choosing the right vehicle for the task at hand can make a big difference in your household’s fuel expenses. Odds are one vehicle has a higher MPG than the other, which may have more seating and trunk space. If you’re running an errand by yourself or going a long distance, choose the more fuel-efficient car if it’s available. That SUV may be better suited to dropping off four kids at camp or loading up for a long weekend. For the latest information on vehicle fuel economy, go to FuelEconomy.gov.

2. Plan Your Trips Wisely

Knocking out all your errands in one swing or on your way home can save you both free time and miles. This is simply common sense, but it’s an important thing to remember. Even if you’re just running out because you forgot to get ice for the cooler, maybe you can stop at the ATM on your way home.

3. Know Where You Are Going

Getting lost can eat up your gasoline for no good reason. If your car is already equipped with a GPS, make it a goal to become an expert at using this valuable tool. If your car doesn’t have one, consider investing in a portable navigation system—not only are they convenient, but they can eventually pay for themselves by cutting fuel costs. Another option is to take advantage of online maps, which are now better than ever at finding businesses and stores.

4. Drive at Efficient Speeds

The actions you take behind the wheel can also positively contribute to your fuel economy. Every 5 mph you drive above 60 mph costs about 24 cents more per gallon, so drive at a moderate pace on the highway. If you’re traveling long distances, cruise control can be your best friend. And of course, try to limit the amount of breaking and accelerating you do by driving at the speed limit on country roads as well.

5. Keep Your Car in Shape

Not only is it good for the lifespan of your car and cutting on future repair costs, but regular maintenance can improve your vehicle’s MPG, too. Little things like regular oil changes, inflating your tires, and bringing your car in for a tune-up can add up to big savings. Removing extra weight from the trunk (such as a bag of golf clubs not being used till the weekend) will save you gas as well.

Bioplastics: Green Materials for the Summer Season

We’re in the season of picnics and BBQs. For your summer parties, it’s always best to choose reusable plates to cut down on waste. But when reusable is not an option, there is a wide range of cups, plates, and utensils made from bioplastics. These bioplastics are made from plants, not petroleum. And unlike traditional disposables, these will biodegrade in a compost facility.

Bioplastics can be made from many types of materials. Some of the most common are corn, sugarcane, and potato starch. Corn-based bioplastics tend to look and feel the most like conventional plastics. They are usually not a good choice for hot items. Some environmentalists have also raised concerns about the land use implications of corn-based plastics. The more acres that are devoted to growing corn for bioplastics, the fewer acres there are for growing food. Potato-based plastics are of similar concern. In general, both of these types of plastics can only be composted in a municipal composting facility. They will probably not biodegrade in your backyard compost. It is also important that you do not mix them in with your recyclables, because they will usually contaminate plastic recycling facilities. These products are not a good choice if your town does not have a composting program.

Because of these drawbacks, Green Irene recommends that you look for sugarcane-based plastics. These plastics are made from bagasse, a waste product from processing sugarcane. Using a waste product avoids the land use issues raised by corn and potato. Sugarcane products can also generally be recycled along with your paper. Some of these products can even be shredded and thrown in your backyard compost. This makes sugarcane a good choice for people who do not have access to a composting facility. You should always check with the supplier about a product’s specifications.

While sugarcane is generally best, it can’t do everything. Utensils, in particular, tend to be made of a mix of plant starches like potato. This gives utensils the necessary strength.

Like any other product, remember that bioplastics will not biodegrade very well in a conventional landfill. For more information about bioplastics, check out Ask Green Irene (you may sign up for a 3-month subscription to gain access).

5 Energy Saving Tips for Summer Cooling

It is officially summer, and much of the U.S. is already feeling the hot weather that is typical of this sunny season. Along with the hot temperatures comes the need to cool homes to maintain comfort while enjoying the summer. This is one of the primary reasons why some urban areas of the country have short blackouts during the summer months. As more people turn on their air conditioners, more energy is demanded from power generators, putting stress on them and requiring cuts in service from time to time.

Here are 5 energy saving tips that you can implement to reduce the need for cooling.

1) Use energy efficient fans. The standard human comfort level for light clothing during the summer is between 72F and 78F. An energy-efficient ceiling fan will allow you to raise your comfort range to 82F by producing a cooling breeze. Use energy-efficient window fans at night or when the temperature of the incoming air is less than 77F. To utilize these fans properly, they should be placed on the downside of your home (opposite where the wind comes in) and be facing outward.

2) Provide effective shades. Provide effective shade for east and west windows. When possible, delay heat-generating activities such as dishwashing until evening on hot days. In hot climates, plant shade trees around the house. Don’t plant trees on the South if you want to benefit from passive solar heating in the winter. Hang tightly woven screens or bamboo shades outside the window during the summer to stop 60 to 80 percent of the sun’s heat from getting to the windows.

3) Get the most out of your A/C unit. If you have an older central air conditioner, consider replacing the outdoor compressor with a modern, high-efficiency unit. Make sure that it is properly matched to the indoor unit. If buying a new air conditioner, be sure that it is properly sized. Get assistance from an energy auditor or air conditioning contractor. In hot, humid climates, make sure that the air conditioner you buy will adequately get rid of high humidity.

4) Maintain your A/C unit. Clean your A/C’s air filter every month during cooling season. Normal dust build-up can reduce air flow by 1 percent per week. Provide shade for your room A/C, or the outside half of your central A/C if at all possible. This will increase the unit’s efficiency by 5 percent to 10 percent.

5) Get a cool roof. Every wonder why it might seem as if so much heat is coming through the ceiling. If your rooftop is black, then that’s the reason why. Black absorbs sunlight and heat during the summer, causing your home to heat up a lot when it’s hot and sunny. To avoid this, simply paint your roof a strong white. This will reflect most of the sunlight and significantly cool your home, saving you big on air conditioning.

There are many more simple ways of reducing your cooling costs. To learn more about them, contact your local Eco-Consultant for a Green Home Makeover and subscription to AskGreenIrene, Green Irene’s library of information covering virtually everything you can do to go green.