Now that’s summer’s in full effect, it’s time for the next installment in our Energy Savings series, courtesy of our friends at Green Home Guide. This week it’s all air conditioners, all the time.

Everyone knows that once the first heat wave hits, energy bills skyrocket — especially when you’re a fan of air conditioning. Your air conditioning system accounts for the bulk of your home’s overall energy use in the summer.

Luckily, the U.S. Green Building Council clued us in to several ways we can save energy — and money — by using our air conditioners conscientiously.

1. Give Your Thermostat the Time of Day
Programming your thermostat to pump less cool air during the moonlight hours — even a few degrees less — can make big a difference. Here are suggested settings for various times through a 24-hour period:

• 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. = 75 degrees
• 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. = 80 degrees
• 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. = 75 degrees
• 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. = 80 degrees

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These days you can find all sorts of cleaning products at the store. They have nice smells, or a new design to ease that work, but in reality, all you really need you probably already have at home.

Martha Stewart can solve any problem, and our cleaning dilemmas are no exception. She has provided several ways to get your cleaning done, and they are all green ideas. Here are a few problems I come across & the solutions Martha has come up with:

• problem: window residue
• solution: 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in a clean spray bottle will get rid of it in no time

• problem: cleaning with vinegar, well, makes the vinegar smell linger
• solution: add a few drops of any great smelling oil, like lavender

• problem: the drain is clogged
• solution: use 3 parts boiling water to 1 part baking soda, and it should be working in no time

These are just a few ideas from Ms. Stewart. What are some of your green cleaning ideas?

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