5 Ways to Cool Your Power Bill

5 Ways to Cool Your Power Bill

With summer in full swing, you’ve probably noticed an uptick in your electricity bill. The hot temperatures and high humidity have been giving your air conditioner a real workout! Since your heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system uses the most electricity of any item in your home, taking steps to improve its efficiency will save energy and money. Try these five easy ways to stay cool for less:

Adjust the thermostat. Set the air conditioner thermostat to 78o F. For every degree setting below 78o F, you spend up to 4% more in cooling costs.

Use fans. Ceiling and floor fans move air to create a breeze, which can make a room feel up to four degrees cooler than the actual temperature. This allows you to set the thermostat higher and still be comfortable. Ceiling fan blades should move in a counterclockwise direction to create a downdraft – you can adjust the direction by moving the switch located on the side of the motor casing. Tip: Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn off the fan when you leave the room to save more money on your power bill.

Use window coverings to control sunlight. East- and west-facing windows catch the brunt of the sun’s heat, adding extra warmth to those sides of your home. Keep blinds and drapes closed to block out morning or afternoon sunlight so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work harder to cool those rooms.

A dirty filter forces your HVAC system to work harder, raising your power bill and shortening the lifespan of the unit.
(Photo source: Judy Corbus)

Change the air filter. Dirty air filters restrict airflow and may cause the HVAC system to run longer, increasing your energy bill and potentially shortening the life of the unit. Many newer HVAC systems shut down if the filter becomes too clogged for air to pass through the filter; this prevents the compressor motor from overheating. When this occurs, a service technician must inspect and reset the unit, resulting in a service charge. During periods of high use or if you live in a dusty area or have pets, check and change your filter monthly, even if the filter is labeled to last three months. Pick a day that’s easy to remember, like the first of the month or when you receive your power bill in the mail. Make sure you use the filter type and size recommended by the manufacturer for optimal efficiency. While you’re at it, dust your ceiling fan blades, too!

Have your HVAC system serviced at least annually. Schedule a maintenance check on your unit at least once a year. A trained technician will check the coolant level, drain line, and overall system to make sure everything is operating at peak efficiency. If you live in a manufactured home, it’s especially important to check the ductwork to ensure it has not separated at the seams, resulting in a loss of cool air inside and higher electricity bills. Routine maintenance will head off potential problems, extending the life of your unit and promoting efficient operation for reduced power bills. Tip: Prune back shrubs that may block airflow to your air conditioner compressor.

These simple tips will help to cool down your power bill while you stay cool!

For more energy-saving tips, visit the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.

An Equal Opportunity Institution.

Safe & Effective DIY Pest Control

Safe & Effective DIY Pest Control

Do you reach for the can of bug spray at the first sight of a pest? Many people do, but did you know there are other less toxic methods for controlling ants, cockroaches, and other vermin in and around your home? Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is an approach that uses a variety of strategies to discourage the development of pest populations and to reduce pesticide use. These strategies are not difficult or expensive and promote a cleaner, healthier environment.

Install door sweeps on the inside of exterior doors to keep insects out.
Photo Credit: Judy Corbus

PREVENTION

  • Check grocery bags, book bags, and lunch containers for cockroaches before bringing them in your home.
  • Cockroaches LOVE cardboard boxes and paper bags. Dispose of unnecessary boxes and bags immediately to eliminate breeding areas. Transfer items for storage to plastic totes with snap-on lids.
  •  Repair or replace torn window and door screens to keep ants, cockroaches, and mosquitoes from entering your home.
  • Apply weather stripping around exterior door frames. Cockroaches can enter through an opening the thickness of a dime so small gaps around your doors are all they need to come in. If your door frame peeks light, your home is not tight!
  • Install door sweeps on exterior doors to make it harder for ants and cockroaches to enter. Make sure the sweep brushes the floor to keep insects out.
  • Ants and cockroaches often enter a home looking for water, especially during dry spells. Seal gaps and openings around pipes with expanding spray foam to eliminate these entry points.
  • Regularly empty standing water in flowerpots, tires, outside toys, and other containers to cut down on mosquito larvae.

Sanitation

  • Wash dishes immediately after use.
  • Wipe counter tops regularly, especially after food preparation.
  • Keep small and large appliances clean and free of crumbs and other debris. Don’t forget to clean around them, too.
  • Store food in sealed packages or containers or in the refrigerator.
  • Close garbage container lids, empty garbage regularly, and keep the container and area clean.

Chemical control
Baits are most highly recommended because of their effectiveness and targeted application, while decreasing unnecessary pesticide exposure. They come in granular forms, in plastic stations, or in large syringes for gel application and in formulas targeted specifically for ants or cockroaches.

  • Apply granular formulations outside in plants and mulched areas.
  • Use bait stations around corners where you suspect cockroaches or ants are hiding or entering your home.
  • Apply gel baits in cracks and crevices around windows, doors, behind the range, and any other suspected harborage areas.
  • Pest control operators have other baits in different forms that also provide long-lasting control.

Simple, everyday habits can go a long way toward eliminating an inviting environment for pests.

For more information about pest management, check out these resources or contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office:

Cockroaches and Their Management

Ants

Pantry and Stored Food Pests

Rat and Mouse Control

Urban Pests and Pest Management

Using Pesticides Safely In and Around the Southern Home

Source: Cockroaches and Their Management

An Equal Opportunity Institution.

Tax Savings with a Flexible Spending Account

Tax Savings with a Flexible Spending Account

Consider setting up a flexible spending account during your employer’s open enrollment period. Photo credit: Judy Corbus

Fall is open enrollment for health insurance and other employee benefits with many employers. One benefit available through many employers is a flexible spending account, or FSA. A flexible spending account is a special account into which you put money to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care expenses. You select the total amount you wish to contribute for the following year, and your contributions are divided out evenly over your paycheck schedule beginning January 1st.

A real perk to this account is you don’t pay taxes on your contributions – the money is deducted before taxes are calculated so you will save an amount equal to the taxes you would have paid on the money you have set aside.

The FSA funds can be used to pay for certain medical and dental expenses for you, your spouse if you’re married, and your dependents. Typical allowable expenses include:

  • Deductibles and co-payments
  • Prescription medications and over-the-counter medications with a doctor’s prescription
  • Medical supplies and equipment such as crutches, bandages, contact lenses and solution, hearing aid batteries, and blood sugar test kits.

Access to your funds varies by employer – some provide employees with a special debit card linked to their FSA to use to pay for expenses, while others require employees to submit a claim to the FSA for reimbursement.

You may contribute a maximum of $2,750 per year per employer. Your spouse also may contribute up to $2,750 in an FSA with their employer. Bear in mind that FSAs are “use it or lose it.” Funds generally must be used within the plan year; however, employers may offer a couple of options:

  • They may provide a “grace period” of up to 2 ½ extra months to use the funds.
  • They may allow you to carry over up to $550 per year to use in the following year.

Employers are not required to offer these options so it’s important to know your employer’s policy. If you have not used your money by the end of the plan year or grace period, you lose it so plan carefully.

To calculate how much to contribute, review this year’s medical expenses for routine doctor and dentist visit co-pays and charges, deductibles, prescription and OTC “maintenance” medications, and other medical expenses. If you anticipate an additional expense for the coming year, such as new eyeglasses, factor that in as well. It’s better to underestimate next year’s medical expenses and contribute a smaller amount than to overestimate and risk losing unused funds.

Some employers also offer dependent care flexible spending accounts to cover childcare expenses. They, too, offer tax savings and operate similarly to healthcare FSAs; check with your employer to see if they are available.

Use open enrollment to review your available options and premiums and compare with your current plan(s) to make sure you and your family are enrolled in the plan(s) that will best meet your needs at the most affordable price. Consider enrolling in a flexible spending account to save money on taxes – don’t leave money on the table!

For more information, visit IRS Publication 969 Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans.

Source: HealthCare.gov

Preparing for the Storm – Home Safe Home

Preparing for the Storm – Home Safe Home

Next to ensuring your family’s safety and well-being during a hurricane, having a game plan to protect your largest investment – your home and property – is essential in preparing for a major storm or other disaster. Many of these tasks can be done as part of routine home maintenance well before a storm is on the horizon.

Mow your yard before a storm to make clean-up easier. Photo credit: UF/IFAS Photo by Camila Guillen

Let’s start with the outside:

  • Trim back limbs and branches hanging over the roof and any dead limbs elsewhere in the yard. These can break off in high winds, causing roof and siding damage.
  • Clean valleys, gutters, and downspouts of leaves and debris. This will improve water flow off the roof, reducing the risk of leaks.
  • If a storm is approaching, move trash cans, lawn furniture, grills, decorative items, potted plants, and toys to the garage, shed, or other secure storage area. These items can become flying missiles in high winds!
  • Protect windows with plywood or roll-down shutters. These protective barriers can:
    • keep wind pressure from building up inside, leading to roof loss
    • reduce the chance of glass breakage
    • reduce the risk of wind-driven rain damaging your home’s interior
  • Be sure to install plywood before wind speeds increase!
  • Do NOT apply tape to windows. Tape will not protect against breakage from flying debris and wastes time and resources. Plus, the adhesive can be very difficult to remove from the glass.
  • Protect the garage door with vertical bracing. You can install wooden columns or purchase a kit. For more information, check out Protecting and Securing Garage Doors.
  • Check doors, windows, and walls for openings where water can enter. Use silicone caulk to seal any gaps, cracks, or holes – pay special attention to cable and pipe openings into the house.
  • Test and service your back-up generator to make sure it’s working properly and check your fuel supply. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, use your generator only outside and at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents.
  • Mow the yard. This makes post-storm clean-up much easier.

Now, we’ll move inside:

  • Check your flashlights and stock up on batteries as needed. Plan on a flashlight for every person in the house plus additional lighting for bedrooms, bathrooms, and common areas.
  • Check your weather radio to ensure it’s working properly.
  • Check smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm batteries and replace as needed. Hard-wired alarm systems will operate on the battery backup during a power outage.
  • Keep your cell phone and other devices charged when a storm is forecast. Purchase backup charging devices for your electronics.
  • Gather disinfectant supplies, trash bags, toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils.  Put these items in a waterproof/water resistant container to keep them clean and (hopefully) dry in case of flooding.

    A 5-gallon bucket with a liner can serve as a toilet. Photo credit: Annette Lanham

  • If you might be unable to flush the toilet during/after the storm, place a heavy-duty contractor trash bag in the toilet bowl to hold waste. Tie with a plastic tie and dispose of when full or as needed. Another option is to place the bag in a five-gallon plastic bucket. For added comfort, slit a foam pool noodle on one side and slip over the bucket edge for a “seat”; cut to fit. You can have two buckets – one for liquid waste and the other for solids.
  • Before the storm arrives, wash dishes, catch up on laundry, clean the kitchen and bathrooms, and empty wastebaskets. This reduces clutter and promotes a clean environment in which to ride out the storm. It also reduces extra work and stress after the storm when water and electricity may be limited or unavailable.

For additional preparation tips, visit Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepare for Natural Disasters

Sources:
Ready.gov
DisasterSafety.org

Preparing for the Storm – What’s for Dinner?

Preparing for the Storm – What’s for Dinner?

Stock up on canned fruits, vegetables, meats, and heat-and-eat soups for your hurricane food supply kit. Photo source: UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.

Now that we are officially in Hurricane Season (June1-November 30) and named storms are paying a call to the Sunshine State, it’s time to make sure we are prepared.

At the top of the list is planning meals for you and your family. Many people grab snack-type foods, such as crackers, cookies, and chips, or whatever is available on store shelves when the storm is approaching without having a meal plan in mind. Use MyPlate as a guide to plan meals to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy products. Foods from each food group provide important vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to properly fuel your body so you are better equipped to deal with the challenges and stresses that accompany hurricanes and other disasters.

Plan a two-week supply of nonperishable or canned food and juices that require little or no cooking and no refrigeration. Include healthy snacks and any special foods for infants, senior adults, or persons with specific dietary needs. Select foods your family likes and will eat. Plan meals and shop early before a storm is on the horizon so you have a greater food selection and can take advantage of sales to stock up at a reduced cost. Keep planned written menus that have worked well for you and your family inside your hurricane food supply kit in a re-sealable plastic bag.

Brenda Marty-Jimenez, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, offers the following menu suggestions:

Breakfast Ideas

Apple juice • ready-to-eat cereal • small boxes of raisins • breakfast bars with fruit • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

Orange juice • hot cereal/instant oatmeal • banana • muffin • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

Grape juice •ready-to-eat cereal • canned peaches • yogurt • bread with jam or jelly • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

Lunch Options

Chunky beef soup (ready-to-eat style that only needs heating) • crackers • carrot and celery sticks • nuts • fruit cups packed in water • vanilla wafers • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

Canned cream soup (ready-to-eat style that only needs heating) • tuna sandwich on whole-wheat bread • tomato slices • unsweetened applesauce • cookies • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

Canned chili with beans (ready-to-eat style that only needs heating) • dinner rolls with margarine or butter • broccoli florets • canned fruit • animal crackers • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

Dinner Suggestions

Canned meat or cheese ravioli • three-bean salad (canned) • fresh yellow apples • bread with margarine or butter • fat-free pudding cup • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

Egg-salad sandwich on whole-wheat bread • canned green beans • canned fruit • fat-free pudding cup • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

Mac and cheese • canned vegetable • fresh pears • dinner rolls with margarine or butter • cookies • shelf-stable skim milk • tea or instant coffee • water

 

Remember the four key food safety principles: Cook, Clean, Chill, and Separate.

  • Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of cooked foods.
  • Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water. Sanitize food preparation and cooking surfaces regularly.
  • Put leftovers in sealed bags or shallow containers and pack on ice or store in the refrigerator if it is running on a generator. Dispose of food that has been at room temperature for more than two hours (one hour if the temperature is 90oF or above) or has an off-odor, color, or texture.
  • Toss out food that has come in contact with contaminated flood water. Do not eat foods from dented, swollen, or corroded cans, even though the food may appear safe to eat.

For more hurricane meal planning ideas and tips, visit: http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/2020/06/01/hurricane-preparedness-meal-and-menu-planning/