[outfit_details]

Mark Twain wasn’t kidding when he said, “If you don’t like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes”. Over the last few weeks, we’ve experienced highs of 95 and lows of 61 degrees! The constant shift in temperature made it impossible to fully commit to blasting our AC or turning off the heat. Now, frankly, you never know what type of weather you’ll be waking up to these days which can get costly when it comes to heating and cooling your home. Being twenty-four and living on my own for about three years, has made me pretty savvy and has allowed me to pick up some tricks and tips on how to cut costs while keeping your home cool for the summer. 

As most of you know Matt and I also have an apartment in Dallas, which made us really good at getting creative and implementing energy efficient tips into our everyday lifestyle, as the summer heat in Texas was no joke. Now some of these tips and tricks were easy to take on and some were harder than others but today we are partnering with Spark Energy to share 5 energy efficient tips to keep your home cool this summer.

Oh, and before we get started on tips for keeping your home cool, Spark Energy was kind enough to give you all a discounted rate! Just use code COASTALCONFIDENCE if you decide to switch over to them as your electricity provider. I’ve done a lot of research on their brand and love how they are customer-centric. Anyway, do a little research for yourself at SparkEnergy.com and let’s jump right into those tips. 

1) Why You Should Always Wash Your Laundry On Cold // Save on Heating Costs

Washing your clothes on cold water is not only a highly efficient way to do laundry but it’s actually really good for your clothes too, go figure! First off since most of my clothes are cotton or linen, I wash most of my loads on cold water to prevent shrinkage and fabric damage. Oh and if that reason isn’t enough, don’t forget that stains set in hot water so washing on cold is another good way to avoid setting stains you forgot to pretreat! 

2) Embrace Colonial Shutters & Curtains // Saving on AC Costs

Spark Energy recommended conserving energy and cost by simply keeping the heat out and the blinds shut, especially in rooms that receive sunlight constantly throughout the day. I mean this tip is simple enough, but it was hard for me to implement as I’m a stickler for having my blinders up all day because frankly, I’m not a fan of the look.

Now, as you all know, I love living in New England for a few reasons, but at the top of that list is colonial decor and design. I love walking through and talking to owners of colonial homes and getting inspired by the unique interior aspects they offer. To get to my point, a few weeks ago I was walking through a historical open house and fell in love with these louver indoor shutters! Not only do these shutters bring character into your home but they work wonders at keeping the sunlight out and cooling costs down. Or if your handy like my Mom is, just sew up some accent curtains to keep the bright afternoon sun out! 

3) Short Showers // Save on Water Costs 

I’m not kidding when I say, I may be the quickest showerer ever if that’s even a thing. I mean I’ve never been one to hang out in the shower, but I must say this trick was one Matt struggled with. If you find yourself running the shower water for way too long, my biggest tip is to make sure you’re prepared before you’ve even turned on your shower head. Get your shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and potions in the shower so you don’t leave the water running longer. Practice makes perfect on this tip, and head over to Spark Energy to learn how to make the most out of your, bathroom exhaust fan. 

4) Take The Heat Out Of The Kitchen // Outdoor Grilling

It’s no surprise that using your oven to cook during the summertime can cause your kitchen to heat up, but what surprised me was the extra work and cost I was creating for my AC unit. After reading up on this trick from Spark Energy, I discovered grilling outside is a much more energy efficient way to cook during the summer because you are taking the heat from the kitchen outside!

For the longest time I hemmed and hawed about purchasing an outdoor grill, but after seeing the cost benefits I quickly splurged on this one! Matt and I actually love grilling so until our mini grill arrives you can catch me sneaking a few patties onto my parents’ backyard grill. Oh and if grilling isn’t your thing, think about investing in a crockpot.

5) Embrace Natural Light // Save on Electricity Costs

By far my favorite energy efficient tip Spark Energy had to offer was turning off your lights and embracing natural light. During the summer we are blessed with warm sunny days and longer daylight hours, so use that to your advantage! When the peak heat hours are done, turn off the lights and open your shutters, blinds or curtains. Natural light is my favorite element of a room and by passing on artificial light, you’ll be sure to not only cut costs but also have great lighting for pictures! You guys, already know from my vlogs that I love a naturally lit room, it makes connecting with you guys so much easier. 

Okay, that’s how you’ll cut costs while keeping your home cool this summer. It can sound silly and overwhelming at times but trust me when I say each of these tasks can, in the long run, make a difference towards your monthly bill and can amount up to some solid yearly savings! Now don’t forget that Spark Energy was kind enough to give you all a discounted rate, so use code COASTALCONFIDENCE if you decide to switch over to Spark Energy as your electricity provider.

When you have time leave a comment below sharing any and every energy efficient tips you might have up your sleeves! xx Aubrey 

+Thank you, Spark Energy for collaborating with and sponsoring this post! As always all opinions are my own.