Top 3 ways to save energy this summer

Nausea: Get up slowly, and eat a few unsalted crackers before getting out of bed. More frequent, smaller meals help, as does drinking water with lemon slices.
Fatigue: Get regular exercise, take catnaps when you can, and — by all means — accept help from others.
Mood swings: Talk about your feelings with others, including other mothers. Limit sweets and caffeine while maintaining a healthy diet of regular meals.
Headaches: Fresh air, exercise, relaxation, rest — and repeat. Check with your health care provider before taking pain medications.
Heartburn: Smaller, lighter meals throughout the day helps, as does sleeping with your upper body raised 6 inches. Don’t lie down until two hours after you eat.
Constipation: Eat high-fiber foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water and get regular exercise.
Breast care: Avoid alcohol or using harsh soaps, which cause excessive dryness. Wear nursing bras, as they provide extra support and can also be used after pregnancy if you choose to breastfeed.
Adequate sleep: Take a warm shower before bed, and sleep on a firm mattress. Position pillows to support arms, legs and belly, and lie on your side with one leg crossed over the other.

March 5, 2020

When the temperature outside is extreme, the amount of energy required to regulate the temperature inside your home can lead to costly bills.

Avista Chief Efficiency Engineer Tom Lienhard recommends three ways to save energy — and money — this summer. And here’s a bonus: he said these tactics for keeping homes cool in the summer also keep them warm in the winter.

FOCUS ON WINDOWS & DOORS
Proper insulation and air sealing techniques around windows and doors successfully keep the heat outside in the summer and inside during the winter. A good way to find leaks around doors is to have a helper outside the door in the dark with a flashlight and have them run the light around the door. Where you see light you have issues. A one-quarter inch gap at the bottom of a door or an one-eighth inch gap around the whole door is the equivalent of a softball-sized hole. Caulking around doors and windows is best done when the temperature is warm and the surfaces are dry in the late spring, summer or early fall.

DON’T OVERLOOK THE ATTIC
Adequate ventilation in the attic has a significant impact on the temperature of your home. Gable, soffit and roof vents, among other options, can lower the temperature in your attic by about 30 degrees in the summer, according to the Department of Energy. An attic needs a year-round flow of natural air, provided your insulation is R-38 or greater, but make sure your attic soffit vents are not covered with insulation.

CIRCULATE THE AIR
Consider fans. A whole house fan pulls air in through open windows and exhausts hot air through the attic or roof, flushing out the built-up heat and cooling your home in the process. A ceiling fan is the most effective because it creates a wind-chill factor on your skin, making you feel cooler.