Get Smart About AC
Cooling and heating your home typically account for a large portion of energy bills. Smart thermostats can help keep those costs in check; energy efficient models can save you 8% or more on annual energy costs.
Smart thermostats are becoming more affordable and allow you to set custom schedules and adjust the settings from anywhere using your phone. They’ll also learn your cooling and heating preferences over time.
Your new smart thermostat will come with step-by-step instructions, but this project typically involves shutting off your heating and cooling system at the breaker panel, disconnecting and removing the old thermostat, installing the new smart thermostat, and connecting it to your home Wi-Fi network.
Dry the Old-Fashioned Way
If you have enough outdoor space, a clothesline is a great way to save energy. Not only will you save on the electricity the dryer would have used, but you’ll also save on cooling costs in the summer since unwanted heat from the clothes dryer won’t be added to your home and make your air conditioner work harder. Additionally, air-drying is much gentler on fabrics and will keep your clothes and linens looking fresh longer.
You can create your own clothesline with 2 T-posts, some wire, and hook-and-eye turnbuckles. Depending on your soil, you may need some rapid-set concrete to set the posts. Another option is installing the line between 2 trees. A typical load of laundry requires about 35 feet of line.
If an outdoor clothesline isn’t an option for you, no sweat! You can buy or easily create an indoor drying rack that folds to save space. Websites like thespruce.com and hgtv.com offer step-by-step tutorials for various indoor clothes racks.