Take Cooking Outside to Beat Heat Inside
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. In Georgia, let’s bring the party outside with a cookout to avoid some of the season’s first air conditioning bills. By cooking outdoors and making a few other energy-saving choices, you can lower both electricity and Georgia gas costs while still enjoying time with family and friends. Weather is predicted to be hot and humid, so we may need to get creative! This year, fire up the grill, not your AC, and appreciate the Memorial Day energy savings.
6 Memorial Day Energy-Saving Tips
Use these tips to keep your energy costs in check this weekend.
1. Cook Outside
We love a natural gas stovetops, but they aren’t very efficient. In fact, only about 30-40% of the energy goes to heating food, according to Energy Star. So, the rest of the heat just warms the house. Over Memorial weekend, move your cooking to a grill and keep that heat outside!
2. Keep Guests Outside
When someone opens a door, cool air escapes and warm Georgia air rushes in. So, keep guests outside by setting up drinks, utensils, seating, and games outdoors. Your AC will keep a steady temp more efficiently and be more energy-saving this way.
3. Party in the Morning or Evening
Consider a brunch or late evening start time and take advantage of cooler temperatures. For brunch, grill some Georgia peaches and other fruit for a yogurt bar. For an evening hang, do grilled veggies and cheese and shrimp skewers.
4. Use Fans
Fans use far less energy than AC. They also keep guests feeling cooler during afternoon heat. Raise the thermostat a bit but stay comfortable by using fans for airflow.
5. Prep Food
Preparing sides earlier cuts down on indoor heat later. Smaller appliances like slow cookers also use less energy than bigger appliances. Avoiding the oven and natural gas stovetop allows your AC to run efficiently and also drops your natural gas bill.
6. Clean Appliances
Keeping appliances clean will have them running more efficiently, saving you money. Clean your grill regularly and empty that grease trap. Removing carbon and grease in your natural gas oven helps it reach and keep set temperatures more easily. Also be sure to clean the area around your AC and the cover so air moves readily. This way you’ll spend less cooling your home!
Bonus Savings Tip: Shop Cheap Natural Gas Rates
As efficient as we try to be, we do still need to use some natural gas here and there. So, make sure you’re getting the best rate and saving the most money. Shop for a new natural gas provider and start saving today. Check out the best natural gas plans at https://www.georgiagassavings.com.