Fast and Free Summer Conservation Tips!

Summer is just around the corner! With summer comes higher utility bills. Here are some fast and free conservation tips from the Consumer Energy Center California Energy Commission to ensure you're conserving during summer!

Photo: One of Kaplan Construction's projects. A home remodel in Long Beach, CA. For more photos of this home, click here.

• Use your microwave to cook. Microwaves use 2/3's less energy than cooking on a stove.
• Use your dishwasher to wash dishes (make sure it's a full load). Dishwashers use less water than hand washing. To save energy, let your dishes air dry.
• Having lots of food in your refrigerator prevents the fridge from warming up too fast when the door is open. So fill up your fridge, so your fridge does not have to work as hard to stay cool.
• Turn up your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees or off when you are away.
• Help prevent power outages by using high energy consuming appliances (i.e. your washing machine and dryer) after 6 P.M.
• Turn off lights and equipment when not in use.

For more tips on energy and water conservation, click here.

Be Water-Wise!

wateruseitwisely.com offers 200 ways to conserve water.

Here are 3 of our favorites:

Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.

Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.

Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

To view all 200 ways, click here.

8 Tips to Keep Your Home Cool

This winter really is feeling like summer in Southern California. Want to stay cool and not use your air conditioning unit? Here are some tips from Huffington Post to keep your home cool without using your AC!

Photo: One of Kaplan Construction's projects, a home remodel in Laguna Beach, CA. For more photos on this home remodel, click here.

1. Keep your blinds close
2. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter clockwise
3. Focus on the temperature in your body, not the house
4. Turn on your bathroom fans when you shower and your kitchen exhaust fan when cooking
5. Let the night air in
6. Ditch the incandescent lights
7. Start grilling
8. Consider long term improvements such as installing awnings or getting blinds for your windows

For more details on these tips and other tips, visit the Huffington Post's blog here.

Energy Saving Tips for This Warm Winter

This past we've been getting Summer-like weather, aka perfect beach weather, with temperatures reaching the high 80's and even 90 degrees. Here are some tips to save energy and stay cool this summer-like winter:

Photo Credit: V. Campana

• Replace your air conditioning filter (if you haven't done so already) to maximize the efficiency of your air circulation.
• Turn up your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees or off  when you are away from home.
• Help prevent electricity outages by using appliances after 6 P.M.
• Turn off lights and equipment when not in  use.
• Cooking on a microwave uses 2/3's the energy than cooking on your stove.

With these tips, you can conserve energy and save money on your electricity bill this month!