Take advantage of cloudy weather.
With less sunlight pouring through your windows, it's easier to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Set your air conditioner to an efficient 78 degrees or higher, and use ceiling fans in occupied rooms to stay comfortable without the added worry of high electric costs.
Note uncomfortably humid areas.
A properly functioning air conditioner will keep your home cool and maintain a comfortable humidity level throughout. Use this opportunity to assess if there are problem areas, and take steps to get the moisture under control. A good first step is to change your central air conditioning filter, which should be helping to trap moisture before treated air is circulated.
Use a dehumidifier.
Some areas of a home, like the basement, naturally hold more moisture than other areas. Invest in a properly sized, ENERGY STAR dehumidifier to maintain healthy air quality and prevent the icky side effects of high moisture, like mold and mildew growth. You can even get a $25 DCSEU rebate on qualified efficient models.
Stream smarter.
Being rained in has its perks - like taking in a good TV streaming binge. Before you curl up with the popcorn, take a look at the way you stream. When streaming to a large screen, Smart TVs are the most energy-efficient choice, with digital media players (like Roku) using up to 15 times less energy than streaming through a gaming console. You can also save energy when streaming to a smaller screen by choosing to use a tablet over a laptop computer.
Clean your way to energy savings.
If being stuck inside has given you the motivation to do some tidying up around the house, add some energy-saving chores to your list. Whether it's dusting vent covers or giving your refrigerator coils a little TLC, a little cleaning can go a long way toward a healthy and efficient home.