Summer Energy Conservation Guide: Stay Cool and Save Money in Chicago’s Rising Heat

Woman in the kitchen paying her bills — Image by wayhomestudio on freepik

As summer heats up in Chicago, with more scorching 90-degree days and the looming threat of intense heat waves, striking a balance between energy conservation and personal well-being grows increasingly crucial.

It can be frustrating to see your energy bill skyrocket during the summer months just to stay comfortable in your home. And with not only temperatures rising, but the frequency and duration of power outages increasing, there could be even more at stake than a lack of comfort.

That is why energy conservation can be crucial during the summer. Reducing your dependency on energy — and being equipped to keep yourself cool without it — will not only be a saving grace to your energy bills, but could keep you safe when the weather starts to get extreme.

Why should I conserve energy?

In the U.S., there is increased interest in shifting the energy industry: emphasis on renewable energy development is becoming more and more important, with solar and wind energy being the fastest-growing technologies in the U.S. market. However, the country still has a long way to go, with almost 80% of the nation’s energy still being generated by fossil fuels.

Why is this important? Because fossil fuel-generated energy still releases greenhouse gasses (GHGs) into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution, climate change, and the generation of ash, contaminated water, and other hazardous waste.

Energy conservation is also necessary as access to energy becomes more limited and unpredictable. Extreme weather conditions, which are happening more and more often in the U.S. due to climate change, are causing more frequent power outages.

In severe heat waves, for example, when people are cranking up the A/C and using more energy than what utilities can supply, these can lead to blackouts. And in the worst scenarios, they can last for days, leaving you vulnerable to the elements and putting your health at risk.

There is much to be done on a national level to ensure our energy grid is updated, reliable, and renewable enough to prevent these things from happening. But until then, we as energy consumers must do what we can to limit energy use, not just for the environment but for our own health and safety.

So what should I do to reduce energy use?

There are many easy and simple ways to reduce energy use that won’t cause too much disruption in your day-to-day life. Follow these tips to not only save on your energy bill, but also reduce your dependence on electricity for cooling your home or apartment:

Unplug appliances that are not in use.

Person unplugging a cable from a powerstrip — image by pvproductions on freepik.

A common but often overlooked perpetrator of excess energy usage isn’t the appliances you are using, but the appliances you’re not.

Appliances that are not being used but are still plugged into an outlet are drawing power in the form of “vampire energy”, also known as standby energy.

Many devices like your TVs, gaming consoles, desktop monitors, microwaves, or phone and computer chargers continue to siphon energy from the power source it’s plugged into so that it can activate immediately once you turn it on. Some of these devices use much more vampire energy than others, but all together can make up a shocking portion of your overall energy consumption.

Depending on how many of your devices remain constantly plugged in, vampire energy can make up between 5-25% of your energy bill! So if you’re looking for ways to immediately cut your energy usage, remembering to unplug appliances before you go to work or bed is a great option.

To make the process less tedious, the more devices you have plugged into power strips, the easier and quicker it is to cut off power to multiple vampire energy sources. If not that, then stick to focusing on the bigger, higher-performance devices like TVs and gaming consoles that contribute to this wasted energy the most.

Make sure your home is insulated and protected from the heat.

Open blinds with trees and greenery outside — image by mrsiraphol on freepik.

Air conditioning is meant to achieve the desired temperature on your thermostat, no matter what the cost. So if your home is not properly insulated, and cool air is escaping at a faster rate than it should, your air conditioning is working overtime to fill in the gaps.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this could result in 25 - 40% of your A/C’s energy use going to waste. So in the summer months, it’s extremely important to make sure your home or apartment are as insulated as possible.

Full home insulation can be a bit more complicated, and requires hiring a trusted professional to do an inspection of your home and fix poorly insulated areas. If you notice your energy bill is much higher than average, or you notice drafts, fluctuating temperatures, or condensation on the inside of your windows, you may want to consider this option.

Otherwise, there are other things you can do inside the home to make it even more protected from the heat.

Make sure you don’t have windows or doors open while the air conditioning is on.
Avoid using your stove top or oven when you can, as these can generate a tremendous amount of heat, and close your blinds before heading to work so the sunlight doesn’t further warm up your home.
If your place gets a particularly large amount of natural light, you can also consider getting window film or other window treatments, which block UV rays and reflect heat.

All in all, air conditioning is going to make up the majority of your energy consumption this summer. The more you can do to keep heat out of your home, the less A/C you need, and the lower your energy bill will drop.

Additional Tip: Some may think turning off your A/C when you’re not home will result in more energy savings, but this isn’t recommended by HVAC professionals! The humidity building up in your home during that time will make your A/C work extra hard to get back to comfortable temperatures once you turn it back on, and possibly result in even higher energy bills. Instead, decrease the temperature just 7 - 10 degrees before leaving.

Now that the weather’s getting hotter, maybe it’s time to use colder water!

Person pushing a button on a washing machine — Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.

Making the switch to colder water is one of the most energy-efficient decisions you can make in your home or apartment. It takes quite a bit of energy to heat up water, whether it be from your sink, dishwasher, washing machine, shower, or stovetop.

With washing machines especially, you can reduce your energy usage by 90% just by switching to cold water. Many people may hesitate to use this option because it’s “not as effective” at cleaning, but this really only applies with hard-to-get-out stains. Cold water cleans just as well as warm or hot water, while putting less wear and tear on your clothes and keeping them in better condition for longer.

So if you’re going to make the switch to cold water anywhere, washing machines are the top choice. Pair it with air drying your clothes, and on average you’ll reduce 5% of your energy consumption.

Washing your hands or dishes in the sink with cold water can be an easy habit to build up over time — but cold showers are a harder sell. There’s nothing more comforting than a hot shower after a long day, but depending on the length and frequency of those showers, your annual energy bill could be exponentially higher as a result. Not to mention that frequent hot showers are shown to have negative side effects, like damaging your skin and stripping it of its important natural oils.

Now that the weather’s getting hotter, consider turning the shower down a few notches, ending a hot shower with cold water, or try reducing your overall shower time. You’ll feel cooler, more refreshed, and conserve a ton of energy!

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Alongside these energy conservation practices, stay safe from the heat this summer by making sure you’re hydrated, staying in the shade when you can, and eating cooling foods like popsicles or cold fruits and veggies to keep your internal body temperature lower.

There are many factors at play in protecting yourself from the heat. As you think about what you can do to decrease your energy consumption this summer, remember those factors so you can continue to enjoy the outdoors, the comfort of your home — and most importantly — low energy bills!