Summertime means pool parties and barbecues for Alabamians, but it also equates to sweltering heat, and consequently, an increase in water and power bills. 

With the rising temperatures, it’s important to be ready and informed on what you can do to keep energy costs low, and to conserve water throughout the hotter months. Stay prepared and ready with our cost-cutting and energy-saving tips for your home, so that you can focus on family and community this summer.

Energy Conservation: Strategies to Stay Cool

Conserving energy use in the summer is essential for reducing your energy bill and lowering your environmental impact. Cooling strategies are especially critical during the hottest months, as summer means you’ll be consistently running an air conditioner. Consider the following suggestions to help you and your family stay cool while keeping your energy costs low:

• Use a programmable thermostat. Set your thermostat to a higher temperature when you’re away from home to reduce energy costs. Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you first turn on your air conditioner— it will not cool your home any faster and may result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense. 
• Air conditioner maintenance. To keep your cooling system running efficiently, schedule regular maintenance for your air conditioner unit. Clean or replace air conditioner filters regularly to improve air quality and air flow.
• Take advantage of in-house programs. Huntsville Utilities’ Home Energy Survey Program (HESP) offers customers an on-site home survey with a detailed report of the recommended energy efficiency upgrades specific to your home. The fee for the survey will be included on your next bill. 

Water Conservation: Protecting The Environment and Your Wallet

Water conservation is important for both drinking water and wastewater systems, as well as protecting your wallet from unexpected costs. It’s expected to use more water during the warm summer months: from the water demands of lawns and plants, to more frequent showers and more laundry, water use should be more closely monitored when the weather heats up. Here are some ways to reduce your water usage in spite of the rising temperatures.

• Pay attention to when your faucet is on. An easy way to reduce water usage is to turn off your faucet while brushing your teeth, shampooing, or shaving. If you have a leaky faucet, be sure and fix the leak as soon as you notice the issue.
• Run full loads only. Summertime often means extra laundry. Be sure and run full loads of laundry rather than multiple small loads, and select the correct load size on your machine. The same applies to your dishwasher– wait until you have a full load to run it.
• Consider your home’s landscape. One of the biggest areas of water consumption in the summer months is from lawn and landscape watering. Huntsville Utilities suggests watering your lawn every other day, and make sure that any sprinkler systems are turned off on rainy days. Additionally, consider planting native or drought-tolerant plants that require less water.

For more cost-cutting conservation tips that you can use today, visit Huntsville Utilities’ YouTube video library.