Here are some strategies to help you save energy and keep costs down during the summer when the weather is warm and you are trying to keep your home cool.

USE YOUR WINDOWS TO KEEP OUT HEAT

  • Install window coverings to prevent heat gain through your windows during the day.

USE FANS AND VENTILATION STRATEGIES TO COOL YOUR HOME

  • Remember to turn off fans when you leave the room, as fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.
  • When you shower or take a bath, use the bathroom fan to remove heat and humidity from your home. If you do not have a bathroom fan, open a window in the bathroom to achieve the same affect.
  • Your laundry room might also benefit from spot ventilation. Also, if possible, do laundry in the morning or evening when it is cool out.
  • Make sure bathroom, laundry and kitchen fans are vented to the outside (not just to the attic).

KEEP HOT AIR FROM LEAKING INTO YOUR HOME

  • Seal cracks and openings to prevent warm air from leaking into your home.
  • Open windows in the evening and close them before the day heats up.

For more ways to stay cool while saving energy, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver website.

You can also schedule an energy assessment to find out how you can increase your comfort and where you can save the most energy (and utility cost).

Through our relationship with Energy Smart Colorado, YVSC supports comprehensive energy assessments that include home analyses that recognize comfort concerns, blower-door testing with infrared camera to detect insulation voids and air leaks, and Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) testing to identify potential for carbon monoxide and other hazards related to combustion heating systems.

This year, YVEA-members can receive a $150 YVEA account credit upon completion of their energy assessment, making the assessment cost only $100. If building owners move forward on $200 or more of the recommended energy savings retrofits, they can also receive up to $100 back from a new YVSC rebate. Sign up for an energy assessment today at https://energysmartcolorado.formstack.com/forms/residential_enrollment.