5 Summertime Energy-Saving Ideas

Cutting back on energy use is a great way to save money on your summertime energy bill, and easier than you may think:

1. Give your oven a break. Of course, taking advantage of your outdoor grill is a great way to save cooking energy (lobster on the grill anyone?). But when rain forces you indoors, do more cooking with your microwave—it uses two-thirds less energy than your stove.
2. Get out of the sink. Believe it or not, a dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hands. To save even more, shut off the automatic drying function and let your dishes air-dry.
3. Fill your ‘fridge. If your budget allows, having lots of food in your refrigerator helps keep it from warming up too fast whenever the door is open. That means your ‘fridge doesn’t have to work so hard to stay chilled.
4. Laundry after dinner. Energy demand during the summer is at its peak between 4 and 6 p.m., so try to wait to run your washer and dryer after dinner. You can save even more by using cold water for the rinse cycle, and putting full loads in your dryer (use the moisture-sensing setting if you have one).
5. Get unplugged. Remember that many electronic devices and chargers still use electricity even when switched “off.” Unplug when not in use, and turn off computers and printers at the power strip.