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Articles by Sonya Rombough
Keep cool without breaking the bank
The weather app on my phone says it hit almost 100 degrees recently.Technically all of this week is supposed to be “cooler,” but most days are still anticipating temps in the high 80s. Staying cool in heat like this is not a cheap endeavor. While air conditioning is one of the most delightful features of modern technology, the cost of it adds up quickly and can make summer energy bills almost as daunting as winter ones. What can consumers do to feel comfortable without breaking the bank?
Keeping cool in the summer
As the weather app on my phone keeps refreshing throughout the day I feel incredibly fortunate to work in a place with air conditioning.The temperatures rise, into the 80s, into the 90s, and I am still in denial about the days to come that will peak above 100 degrees. For me, I sit in the lap of luxury at my workplace and then make the sad trudge home to my second-floor apartment where two box fans try their best to make me feel comfortable.
Thinking about air quality
Memorial Day weekend just passed and with its arrival summer is close at hand.
Appliances are adding up fast
Another month has come and gone and this one was filled with glorious sunshine and climbing temperatures.As we settle into May, spring is in full swing, and for most people the heater is probably finally turned off. It’s nice to see those lovely lower electric bills coming in the mail, but who wouldn’t jump at the chance to make them even lower? Those soft, humming, buzzing or whirring sounds that usually fill your home can represent 11 percent of your electric usage going toward appliances.
Sealed and safe to save
Today of all days as I write this it seems incredibly hard to stay inside my office. Outside the window birds are chirping, bees are buzzing and the temperatures are rising above 70 degrees. It sounds to me like this weekend would be absolutely perfect for some of those home updates that could help you save on seasonal heating and cooling costs.You may be asking yourself what the correlation between the weather and energy savings may be. Certainly you can change a light bulb in rain, sleet or snow?
Don’t wash your dollars down the drain
It’s officially March. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and spring cleaning is nagging at the back of my mind. I don’t know about you, but in my home the chore that always seems to be endless is laundry. As soon as I finish folding the last sock another entire load is ready to be washed. I can only imagine how this might be exacerbated by a house full of kids. Even if you’re only doing one or two loads of laundry per week the costs add up rapidly.
Too hot, or not too hot?
February is upon us and spring is near, but here in the Kittitas Valley snow is still heavy upon the ground. Heaped in plow piles through parking lots and front yards, the snow will persist as long as the biting cold does.I don’t know about you, but this weather makes me think of nice, hot things. Wrapping my hands around a nice cup of hot cocoa, or sinking indulgently into a nice hot bath.
Staying bright on a budget
Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about this time of year is how short the days are. To me it can often feel like I leave for work in the dark morning and come home in the dark evening, as if the sun didn’t show up at all.Add to that the omnipresent bank of snow clouds that obliterate the sun during what would be daylight hours and it starts to feel like the only light we have left is artificial.
How to keep your electric bill from ballooning
As I crunched my way through frozen snow this morning it was apparent that winter weather has descended upon the Kittitas Valley. Though the blanketing snow can be quite picturesque, these dropping temperatures can have the unfortunate side effect of rising energy bills.When outside is below freezing, it can be tempting to stay in, turn up the heat and rely on electronics for evening entertainment, all to the detriment of your pocketbook.
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