Some Spring and Summer Tips

The spring and summer seasons are bright, cheerful times with colorful explosions of blossoming buds accompanied by warm breezes breathing new life into the atmosphere.

These are the beautiful seasons! 

They captivate your senses with colorful images and enliven your spirits while wrapping you in the cozy comforts of summer heat.

Summer will soon be kicking into high gear across the country.  You can almost hear the constant purr of air conditioners ratcheting up -- with your home energy bills keeping pace.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on electricity and gas usage the average household spends $1,900 annually on energy.

Cutting Back.  You can do right by the environment and your wallet without having to make major sacrifices or lifestyle changes.  You can decrease your bills by one-third or more just by making some relatively easy and painless adjustments.
Here are some easy ways to help you save not only during the summer months but some can continue to work for you all year long.

Upgrade Your Thermostat.  Invest in a programmable thermostat.  These are handy little devices that allow you to cool your home or office to different temperatures at times that best suit your needs and schedule.

Turn down the AC during the day or whenever you’ll be away then program it to start up again 30 minutes before you return.  You should also adjust it during the night or early morning hours when everyone is less likely to notice a shift in temperature.

Installing a programmable thermostat should only cost between $100 - $150 and the energy savings can prove substantial.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), it’s possible to cut your heating and cooling bills by 10% annually by turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours a day.

Go Green.  Planting shady trees around your house will not only help shave approximately $100 to $250 off your annual heating and cooling costs but they will help make your yard more beautiful and attractive.  Leafy trees will shield your house from direct sunlight, keeping temperatures down, while still allowing sunlight to hit your house during the winter months.
If outdoor gardening and yard work is too overwhelming or not your forte you can cut energy costs from inside your home by simply closing your curtains or pulling the shades down.

Keep Things Clean.  Keep your air-conditioning unit clean and in peak performance.  This is a big money saver.  Make sure your AC unit gets a professional tune up.  This may cost between $90 - $120.  Also check the air filters every month or so to see if they need to be cleaned or replaced.
Dust off the condenser coils on your refrigerator to allow the unit to run more efficiently.

Buy a Better Bulb.  According to the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) require 75% less energy than traditional (incandescent) light bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer.  Look for CFLs with the Energy Star label. These bulbs now come in smaller sizes (subcompacts) that can fit into any lamp, and are offered in a wider color spectrum.  By replacing just four well-used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with equivalent 23-watt CFLs will help save you $120 to $200 over three years.

If you still have one of those halogen lamps hanging around do yourself a favor and throw it out!  These dangerous fire starters and their bulbs, which can generate temperatures of 700 to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, are energy hogs.

The Fan Club.  Install a ceiling fan to balance out a room's temperature.  This will allow you to turn down the AC and still feel cool.
Unplug.  Even when all of your home electronics are turned off, many continue to suck energy.  The main culprits in household today are televisions, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, phones and microwave ovens.  Plug the items that can be turned completely off into a power strip and use that as the on/off switch.

Fight Leaks.  You don’t want your pricey, cooled air leaking straight out of your house. Leaky windows and ducts are two ways that cool air can be lost and make your air conditioner work harder.  Make sure your ducts are properly sealed and insulated.  According to the EPA this could save you as much as 10% in energy costs.  So have your duct system checked out by a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) technician.  Find one by visiting the North American Technician Excellence web site.

Savvy Shopping.  Look for the Energy Star label.  The biggest way to help you save is to invest in energy-efficient appliances.  There are more than 44 product categories that qualify.  Sure, replacing large appliances such as a refrigerator or dishwasher requires an upfront investment but you can recoup your costs quickly by replacing it with an Energy Star-qualified model which could cut your operating costs by 30%.

Put your gym membership on hold and try getting your exercise outside.  Beat power waste into submission. Gyms across the country overload on A/C and most training machines also use electricity.

Less of a thrashing on your wallet.   An average gym membership costs $55 per month while parks and trails offer better scenery than any weight room.  At this time of year you never hear anybody talking about the great indoors.  Locate a hiking trail near you.  Take a mat and do yoga poses at home, in the yard, or while you’re at the park.  Check out volunteer opportunities that get you moving such as cleaning up litter from parks, maintaining or clearing trails.

Allergies & Asthma.  After a long winter you’re probably ready to get outside to enjoy and soak up some of those glorious rays of sunshine!
Unfortunately with the arrival of spring also means the start of allergy season.  Millions of people suffer from allergies caused by exposure to agents such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.  Many of these can also cause allergic problems such as asthma, nasal and sinus congestion, hives, and severe anaphylactic reactions.
What are allergies?  Allergies are bodily reactions to perceived threats in your environment. When your body is exposed to a substance you are allergic to your immune system tries to fight off the assault by producing antibodies.  These antibodies cause your cells to release proteins called histamines, which in turn can cause itching, swelling, runny eyes or nose and in severe cases, problems with swallowing and breathing.

What causes allergies?  Hundreds of different allergy triggers exist.  The most common causes include pollens, molds, dust mites, animal or pet dander and industrial chemicals. If you tend to get allergies in the spring, then it’s likely you suffer from hay fever, caused by pollen.  If your symptoms seem to come and go year-round, then it's likely you might be reacting to mold, mites or animal dander, all of which are common allergy triggers than people realize.
It is very important for you to understand the potential of developing allergies and asthma and be educated on the best forms of treatment for both ailments.

Solutions for Summer Fun.  Summer time can present planning challenges for working parents of young children.  With extra activities such as field trips and outings, swim lessons, special camps, amusement parks all requiring additional planning, transportation, work schedule flexibility and affordability.

Check Out Your Local Area Community Center. Many communities have taken advantage of recreation centers and parks to offer reasonable child care during the summer and weeks when children are out of school. Some cities promote summer fun child-care camps as a community service for its residents for a nominal fee.  A possible advantage to using recreation center care is if parents only need a few weeks covered and want certain summer fun days or activities for their kids.  Many centers structure the fees on a week-by-week basis, which allows flexibility for summer fun planning. Parents shouldn't delay in signing up since space is limited and fills up fast.

Start a Neighborhood Co-op.   Gather together parents of similar-aged children in your neighborhood and start a summer fun program for your kids.  Meet and agree to a calendar of activities and events.  Parents can alternate care and plan and carry out a fun outing for all participants for assigned days.  There typically is no money that changes hands.  Everyone equally takes turns and plans an enjoyable and safe day.