Summer is finally here! As we are making summer plans and enjoying fun outings, it’s a great time to consider ways to save on our electric bill. Growing up on a dairy farm, we were always mindful of being frugal – in the summer, this meant putting our clothes out on the line to dry, and canning vegetables. My grandmother didn’t even have a clothes dryer, and in the winter used a clothes rack.
Using a clothes line or rack does take a bit more planning and work, but it is so worth it. There are some things to keep in mind that are helpful – keeping track of good sunny days, putting a load of wash in the night before and putting it out on the line the next morning. The sun naturally can sanitize your clothes and the smell your clothes will have after drying outside is very refreshing. By putting your clothes outside, water vapor is put back into the environment and helps to reduce pollution, particularly from power plants.
Another simple way to keep rooms or your house cool in summer is by closing the windows and shades or curtains during the day, especially on the south facing side of the home. In the evening when temperatures are cooler, the windows can be opened to let the air that has built up in the house out and the fresh air in. It’s amazing how much heat can be kept out of a room by doing this.
Everyone’s heating bills this past winter were record breaking. Even though winter is now long gone, summer is an excellent time to assess our homes to learn where major energy leaks might be and where additional insulation or chalking would be beneficial. Homeowners can take simple steps to improve energy efficiency themselves with a bit of easy research, or they can take advantage of energy audit programs that are offered by local utilities. Energy efficiency efforts save money and play a significant role in reducing our carbon footprint.
Summer in New Hampshire is wonderful, but fleeting. Enjoy the season, and remember that caring for our environment through energy efficiency benefits both our local community and our planet.
The Concord Energy and Environment Committee contributes a monthly column to the Insider. The members of CEEC aim to inform and engage the citizens of Concord about energy, environmental, and sustainability issues and policies. CEEC works with city administration and the Concord City Council to identify and implement sustainability programs and strategies. If you have questions or you would like to become involved in the committee, please contact us at 225-8500.
