This summer, you can take some steps to ensure that you enjoy a sustainable lifestyle by cutting down on some expenses. The following are five tips that you can use to save some money this summer all while boosting your home’s value.

5 Tips for Saving Money This Summer

1. Improve Your Lighting

The lighting that you have in and around your home plays an important role and it might inflate your energy bills. Make the switch to light-emitting diode bulbs and minimize the energy that you need to keep your house well-lit. This is because they emit less heat and also last for longer than regular bulbs, so you won’t have to change them regularly. On average, a mortgage costs $1,297 per month to service, and this is an amount that you may want to work hard not to add on to. If you install new lighting outdoors, you could also consider getting solar-powered lights that won’t cost you extra money to keep on.

2. Lower Water Heating Costs

Water heating costs can also play up your bills, and one way to bring this cost down is to install a new and modern water heater. This could work more efficiently, and you will notice a big difference, especially if you’ve had your current water heater for a long time and it’s close to the end of its lifespan. With this in mind, shop for a good water heater that’s the right size for your family’s needs. While quality may cost a bit more upfront, it will be a worthwhile investment for you that your whole family will enjoy.

3. Cook Outdoors

There’s no better time to maximize the time spent outdoors than summer. Apart from enjoying fun cookouts and holding parties outdoors, you can also make some amazing savings. This is because when you spend time outdoors, you won’t have to cool the house down and your air conditioner will rest. For as many meals as possible, cook and eat outdoors so that there’s no need to blast the air conditioner throughout the day. You could even invest in getting an outdoor kitchen to serve you this season and make it easier and more fun to prepare and have meals outside. Remember to clean your outdoors thoroughly first, since according to Seasonal Yard Work Inc., pressure washing your house each year can help you extend your paint’s life by at least three years.

4. Make Use of Fans and Windows

Whenever you’re indoors, you could use fans if you have some installed. Turn these on only in the rooms that are occupied and you may minimize the cooling costs by a noticeable amount. You can also take advantage of windows to let in the air. While the air coming from outside may be warm, it will have a cooling effect as it circulates through the house. Open windows that aren’t facing the sun at the hottest times of the day and it may be enough to cool your house down to bearable degrees.

5. Change Your Air Conditioner’s Filters

Finally, change the filters in your air conditioner just as summer starts so that you give it a chance to function optimally. When it has a clean filter that’s not blocked or worn, it will be more effective and you may not need to turn it on to a high setting. Up to 49% of a home’s energy bill, according to the United States Department of Energy, is spent on just heating and cooling. If you can bring this percentage down by doing something as simple and affordable as changing your unit’s filters, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do it.

Use the five tips above to improve your summer lifestyle and save some money at the same time. If you can maintain these habits and changes, you may enjoy considerable savings over time.