If you’re a homeowner who’s bills keep rising and you’re in need of some money saving tips… read on.
The summer of 2023 has been one of the hottest on record in the United States.
Death Valley, California, hit 128F. Texas cities faced triple-digit highs for six weeks or more and “Phoenix logged a month straight of 110-degree high temperatures and become the first American city to ever set an average temperature over 100 degrees.”
Heck, even the ocean temperature around the Florida Keys hit 101F – that could be a global record.
This is my 8th summer in South Florida and it’s by far the hottest we’ve experienced.
In addition to the health risks, the heat is also putting a strain on our power grid. As more people crank up their air conditioners, demand for electricity is increasing, and power outages are becoming more common.
This is a wake-up call for homeowners. And, you can find ways to save energy. Not only will this help to protect the environment, but it’ll also give you money saving tips so you can lower your energy bills.
Money Saving Tips for Homeowners This Summer
So you want to know how to save energy and save money during the summer heat? Below is a great place to start:
* Seal up air leaks – Air leaks around windows and doors can let in hot air, and cooler air out – use caulk or weatherstripping
* Upgrade your appliances – choose those that have an Energy Star label
* Plant trees. Trees can help to shade your home and keep it cooler in the summer
* Unplug electronics when they’re not in use – that’s right, even if they’re not in use, there is still a drain occurring
* Wash clothes in cold water. Most of the energy used to wash clothes goes to heating water
* Take shorter showers – and if you have a large family, engage them with these critical money saving tips as water is a biggie
* Fix leaky faucets – Um, nothing more to add
And if you want to take it up a notch, work toward getting your home certified. One way to do that is via Pearl Certification. Have a look at who they are, what they offer, and how the go about certifying homes. They believe that supply of, and demand for, sustainable and energy-efficient housing will only increase.
Money Saving Tips – Stats
- There are over 2.4 million homes and apartments certified with the Energy Star label in the United States
- Over 120,000 such homes were built in 2022, 9% of the total number of new housing units built, up from 7% in 2021
- Arizona – 42% of newly built homes in 2022 got an Energy Star label – a percentage far higher than in any other state.
- Florida – about 3.5% of homes make that list.
Go even further by getting Pearl Certification app, Green Door. It’s a neat tool to help you understand how well your home’s energy efficiency is performing.
Homeowners seeking money saving tips don’t need to look far. And, by creating a 3-5 year plan where you upgrade parts of your home each year is a great idea. You don’t need to do it all at once as it may be cost prohibited. So spread you expense out over time and let you money saving tips work for you for the long run.
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*** Photo above: Our backyard – Aloe Vera plants shine from our solar lights.
*** My July Delray Beach Market Update video
*** Should you trust automated home valuation tools? Give this a gander.
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*** Your Weekly Inventory Update ***
* 4 years ago there were over 54,000 properties available in S. Florida
* It bottomed in February 2022 at 14,485… a 73% drop
* Last week there were 27,588 available… a 102% rise in 18 months
* This morning’s Inventory is 27,730.
*** Inventory is DOWN 23 of 29 weeks***