Oklahoma summers have a lot going for them (baseball, sunny days, lake trips, BBQs), but May to August in the Sooner State is legendary for hotter than hot temperatures. Worried about staying cool and saving money? Fear not! You don’t have to resort to sitting in a kiddie pool filled with ice (you still can, of course). Stay cool and comfy — and save cash — with these five easy tips!
- Become a fan…of fans.
Don’t you just love the whirring sound of fans? It’s almost therapeutic. Fans will certainly improve your mental well-being when you see how much money they can save. Use a stand, box or ceiling fan and you can raise your thermostat by four degrees without feeling the difference. Cool, right? However, remember to turn off the fan if you’re not in the room. The wind chill effect cools the people in the room, not the room itself.
- Is your A/C from B.C.? Upgrade it!
Still using the same A/C unit from, like, 25 years ago? That outdated A/C could be costing you a small fortune in energy costs. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR certified A/C will keep you cool all summer long. Do we offer rebates? You bet we do! Check out all of our rebate programs at powerforwardwithpso.com.
- Don’t cut the cords. Just unplug them.
It’s always a good idea to unplug your electronics when you’re not using them (seriously, those puppies just suck up watts), but it’s especially smart in the summer. Think of it like this: you’re inevitably going to be using more energy in the summer because you’re cranking the A/C, right? But when you unplug your chargers, TV, computer, etc., you’re making up some of the difference. A little bit goes a long way too. In fact, according to the Department of Energy, you can save up to $100 a year.
- Don’t (unintentionally) heat your home.
You may be heating your home and not even realize it. How? By leaving your blinds and curtains open. Leaving your blinds and curtains open lets in sunlight and heats up rooms, so your A/C has to work that much harder to cool your place down. Close them to save some energy this summer. While you’re at it, consider adding weather stripping to your doors and windows. You can even save on select home maintenance items with instant in-store discounts from PSO.
- Steer clear of the kitchen.
Grilling outside isn’t just a lot of fun; it can help save energy too. Using kitchen appliances can raise the temperature by 10 degrees. Plus, there’s also the air conditioning cost of cooling down your home. So anytime can grill out or go out, do it!