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| Keep your Lexington home cool this summer |
Memorial Day weekend is over, local pools are opening and
temperatures are heating up in Lexington, MA. Summer has arrived! With summer's arrival also comes increased electric bills, thanks to air conditioning costs that keep
our Lexington homes cool to our liking.
As your Lexington real estate agent, I’d like to share some
great tips for reducing your energy costs this summer. RISMedia recently shared
a bunch of tips, so I’ll summarize them for you here. That way, you’ll have
more money to spend on summer fun or a down payment on the Lexington home of your dreams!
Jot down the ideas that sound most doable to you:
- Apply window film. Often, what heats the house up the most is the sun blaring through the windows. You could just close the blinds or drapes, but if you don’t want to sit in a dark house all day, another option is window film. Just measure your window, cut the film and stick it onto your window. You can still see the sun and views without getting the heat from the sun!
- Clean your air filters. Cleaning air filters on a regular basis is a great way to ensure that your air conditioner is functioning as well as it can. When the filters get dirty, the cooling system has to work harder, and therefore consumes more energy to get its job done. (The same is true for your heating system.) With clean filters, you’ll get better quality, cool air for less of the cost.
- Install a programmable thermostat. These aren’t a huge investment, and they’ll save you tons of money down the road. They allow you to turn up or down the temperature at certain times of the day, even if you aren’t home. If the house is empty during the day while you’re at work, for example, you can turn the thermostat off, and then have it turn back on an hour before you come home!
- Go raw! When you use your oven in the summer, it takes your home awhile to cool back off from that release of heat. Start collecting some delicious raw recipes now, such as salads, sandwiches, smoothies, raw desserts and more. You could also use a slow cooker, or dehydrator, which release less heat than the oven. Or, get grilling outside. Have fun with it!
- Collect rainwater. To reduce the amount of water you use for your gardens, collect rainwater! Rain barrels are a great way to do so, and then you can water your gardens and trees with what you collect. You just place a barrel at the end of your gutter downspout and they collect the water as it pours out. Save the water for a dry day!
- Add mulch. Another great way to save on water usage is to add mulch to your gardens and around your trees. Mulch helps prevent evaporation, so water stays in the ground longer, giving your plants more time to absorb it. You won’t have to water them as frequently!
Enjoy your summer here in Lexington, MA! When ready to buy a Lexington home, or when ready to sell your Lexington home, contact me! I’m your
Lexington real estate agent, ready to help you all season long with your real estate
goals in the Lexington market.
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