5 Easy Fixes For A High Summer Electric Bill By Amanda C. Haury | Investopedia – 57 minutes ago

Summer has arrived and as the temperatures begin to soar, many consumers can expect their electric bill to do the same. As the hot weather sets in, air conditioners will be working on full blast effectively sending a reasonable electric bill through the ceiling. While there are many ways to reduce your electricity usage, from upgrading to energy conserving appliances to selecting premium grade windows, these are not options that a cash-strapped consumer can readily use. There are some easy and affordable ways to reduce your summer energy bill without having to shell out big bucks on home upgrades. Here is a look at how consumers on a budget can lower their high summer electric bill.

Use Heavy Drapes on Windows A method that is frequently used to keep heat in during the winter time, can also effectively keep the chill from the air conditioner in the house during the warm summer months. Hanging heavy drapes in front of windows will help keep the house cool by not letting the glaring sun warm up the house. Depending on how many windows you have in your house, installing heavy drapes can be an effective way of keeping your house cool. If buying drapes for all of the windows in your home is too expensive, you could opt to hang them in the areas of your house that get the most sun exposure.

Use Energy Saver Option on Air ConditionerWhen you are not at home, use the energy saver option on your air conditioner rather than turning it off. The energy saver will keep your house at a cool temperature. If you turn off your air conditioner the temperature in your house will rise, and when you turn the unit back on it will need to work harder to cool your house down again, in turn rising your electric bill. Additionally, if your air conditioner has seen better days, it is likely that it is not as energy efficient as some of the newer models on shelves today. If money allows, it may be wise to upgrade your air conditioning unit before next summer arrives.


Recall the Fire Safety Warning "Heat Rises" As children, we are taught that heat rises. If you have an air conditioning unit running on the first floor of your home, you could help keep your house cooler by shutting all of the doors on the second floor. The less space your air conditioner needs to cool, the quicker and easier it will do so. By stopping the airflow to certain areas of your house, you are helping to reduce your electric bill in a big way.

Ceiling and Window Fans Go a Long Way When you're trying to save money on your electric bill during the summer, it is wise to limit the use of the air conditioner to extremely hot days. Fortunately, ceiling fans and window fans do not use nearly as much electricity as an air conditioning unit does. Well placed fans can keep cool air circulating in the house, and keep your home from feeling like a sauna. If you do not already have them installed in your home, consider purchasing ceiling fan units. Install a unit in each of the bedrooms to
keep air circulating as you sleep.

Lights off During the Day Time A simple way to conserve energy and lower your electric bill is to turn off all of the lights during the day. If the weather permits, open the windows and allow natural light to shine in, instead of keeping artificial lights on all day long. This move will help reduce your electric bill significantly by reducing your electric use during the day, and keeping your home cool in case you need to turn on your air conditioner later.

The Bottom Line Saving money on your electric bill is easy when you know where to make cuts. There are some simple and cost-effective ways to reduce your energy use during the summer months. You can drastically reduce your energy bill during the hot summer months by limiting your air conditioner use, installing thermal drapes and using fans to maximize the ventilation in your home. A high electric bill can be a source of great stress for many struggling consumers. This summer, don't fret over a costly energy bill and find ways to reduce your bill instead.

Getting a Good Deal

Ellen Ruppel Shell’s  book called  Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture,  caught my intrest recently.

Too often in my work I have heard customers comment how they just bought to have something or it was such a good deal. Is it a good deal when sofa cushions go flat within a year or you cannot turn the cushion over to get more even and longer wear? A good upholstery fabric will last for years and a quality frame can hold up for generations.

Selecting building materials can have similar consequences. It can take a lot of patience and knowledge to make the right purchases.Installation cost are the same, why not take a little more time to select the materials correct the first time? Letting price be the deciding factor can backfire in many ways. Worst of all living with products that are less pleasing or having to tear up everything and start over.

A good deal in my opinion is when you divide the cost of the product by the years you own it ; the lower the number the better purchase it was originally.  A professional interior designer can help you make the right selections and help you save money in the long run.

Sold as leather chairs, but they are Bonded leather, not real.

Leased in 48 Hours

My customer had to relocate due to a job transfer recently and was so pleased her condo rented out right away. Her agent told me how Kimberly's place stood out from the rest, because it was warm and inviting.

Remodeling her home ended up being a terrific investment also,  and allowed her to move on with an exiting job without extra worries.  

Earlier post below: 

   No matter what kind of home improvement project, a professional interior design expert can help you get the best results. We have sources and knowledge for products most consumers would have a tough time finding. 

It is necessary to see in person the place, as with my recent project at Kimberly Grear’s home in a downtown Chicago high-rise.  I felt her condo needed warmth, the spectacular city view is the highlight, but it seem a little harsh and cold. Western exposure can also create a lot of clare and be uncomfortable specially in the summer months.  New textured wall covering, rearranging artwork and the solar shades made such a huge difference,  my client has now changed her thoughts about moving to another place. 

Kimberly Grear: Essentially, I approached Katarina on a small but important project -- to update my condo cosmetically with new textured wallpaper and paint and cool solar blinds in my dining and living room.  Her consultation provided me with amazing choices, and I wasn't overwhelmed. The gorgeous wallpaper products and choices Katarina presented me with far exceeded my expectations. I literally had a small creative budget. The final product delivered rich, stunning yet casual earth tones for my home. (Jeff Lewis from "Flipping Out" on Bravo would have been beaming proud.) I am SO THRILLED!!!   I feel like I have a new home for a small investment.  And, that's not an easy thing to pull off. 

Katarina is seriously superb at what she does and seriously talented on so many levels.  She is a true professional and easy to work with. I also think Katarina should have her on TV show. (No kidding....)   

The gift of working with Katarina is that she provides you with top shelf choices on your budget and five star service.

I can't say enough wonderful things about working with Katarina. She's the real (and rare) deal!!!

A fun place for kids and guest

Cozy new play area

It’s been said “necessity” is the mother of invention. Well, in a recent project I worked on, the basement of an Oak Park four-square, it was “necessary” to make the playroom/guestroom more visually and acoustically appealing.  Let me explain. Despite the many lovely details of the rest of the prairie style house, which dates back to  1923, the basement was dominated by a noisy, unsightly, old heating system. The exposed pipes, which were often mistaken by their 2 and 4 year-old as monkey bars, made play dates hazardous. And the loud humming which started and stopped at intervals could turn any overnight guest into an insomniac.

Solution? Kill 2 birds with one stone—or in this case—a few modular acoustical fabric-backed bookcases. As you can see by the photos, the bookcases not only block the heating system, they warm up the space and provide an extra storage space for toys. We also added an art center, a place to play dress up and fun, movable seating for all ages. Even the drapery we used to hide an unsightly storage area doubles as a place for kids to play hide and seek.

Proof that the space works? On a recent visit, Bianca, the 4 year-old said, “Take your shoes off and get real comfortable.” Oh, and out-of-town visitors are no longer going the hotel route.  

Before the remodel

                                           

 Why has gold come back in style again?  Because it is the only thing that has kept its value.  After seeing silver tones for so many years, gold is refreshing again. Recently my customer called me and asked if I could come up with some solution for their dark Northern exposure bedroom. The perfect cure come from a gold foil wall covering, new silk draperies and a halogen floor lamp.  After we got done, I got a hug and a kiss from the husband.  He said: Marilyn spends so much time now in their beautiful bedroom.

This exquisite wallpaper is made by a small company in California.  Proof that there are still quality manufactures right here in the USA.

 Our customer contacted us to help with his very cramped and cluttered kitchen. There was not enough storage and the L-shape work area was awkward, cutting the space needlessly.We kept the existing cabinets, just repositioned some of them and added a much needed glass door pantry. Large recessed can ceiling fixtures were retrofitted with more modern and efficient fixtures. Because we saved the original cabinets and flooring the budget allow us to install stylish granite counters with stainless tile back-splashes, new sink and faucet.

Before

After

Katarina Andersson

Lee Industries, made in the USA furniture is a good investment, and they really care about the environment.

They believe : “ If it’s worth spending time and energy, it’s worth doing right”.

http://www.leeindustries.com/