Energy saving tips keep your bill to a minimum

Summer is finally here and we are all roasting from the heat. I thought in this week's article, I would provide you with a few energy saving tips to keep those hard-earned bucks in your pocket.

1. Turn off lights, especially if they are incandescent. Incandescent bulbs produce more heat than they produce light. Leaving lights on causes your air conditioner to work harder, which causes higher energy bills.

2. Change your air conditioner filter monthly, and change it more often if you have pets that shed. Pet hair and dander causes the filter to become clogged, forcing the air conditioner to work harder — which produces higher energy bills.

3. If the outside temperature drops below 78 degrees, shut the air conditioner off and open your windows to cool your home.

4. Close off your kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room. This will keep the humidity levels down and you will feel cooler. This is a very common practice in Europe where utility costs are very high.

5. Cover cooking pots on the stove to confine the heat and humidity. A covered pot heats up faster so you use the stove for shorter periods.

6. Have an attic fan installed in your attic. The fan will blow the hot air, thereby reducing the heat in your attic. This reduction of heat will make the ceiling cooler in your living space. Also, when the night temperature drops, the fan will pull in cool air, which will help cool down your home.

7. A large window fan uses about one-fourth the energy and costs about one-fifth as much as an air conditioner to operate.

8. When buying an air conditioner, bigger is not always better. Look for the seasonal energy efficiency rating — the higher the number, the more cooling efficiency you will get for electricity costs.

9. Air conditioners work more efficiently when they are installed on the shady side of your home.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (255-2266), e-mail him at madan@surf1.ws; or send them in to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864; Attn: What Would Ed Do? For more information about Ed, check him out online at www.NWEES.com.

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the CEO of Northwest Executive and Environmental Services, LLC.