Simple Tips to Keep Your House Cool
The cost of cooling your house will rise right along with the temperature, especially if you are using an AC unit. The air conditioner is obviously the best method of keeping your home cool in the summertime, however it can raise your energy bill substantially and it’s not environmentally friendly. Other alternatives that are more environmentally friendly and will help you save money are listed below.
Fans and Ceiling Fans
You can beat the heat simply by using a ceiling fan. It can actually make your room feel as if it is 6 to 7 degrees cooler and will only cost you around $10 a month, using it 12 hours a day. In addition, installing a whole house fan can be beneficial since it pushes the hot air out and circulates fresh cool air inside your home.
Drapes, Shades or Blinds
Installing drapes, shades, or blinds will help in reflecting the heat away from your home. Be sure to close shades, draperies or blinds that face the sun (morning – windows facing east, afternoon – windows facing west) which will help keep the heat of the sun out and help your fans cool more efficiently. Keep in mind that keeping the heat out of your home is the best way to keep your house feeling cool.
Internal Heat
Lighting, electronic devices, and appliances are the most common internal heat sources. If you have an AC unit, don’t put televisions, lamps, or other appliances that produce heat next to the thermostat. This will cause your home to feel warmer and trigger the air conditioning unit to operate longer and work harder. If you don’t need heat-generating appliances and incandescent lights, turn them off. Use compact fluorescents instead of incandescent bulbs since they provide the same amount of lighting but use a fifth less the heat and energy.
Final Note
When possible, avoid activities that are heat-generating like cooking on hot days. If you need to cook, switch on your range fan for ventilating the hot air out of your home. If you can reduce the heat in your house, you will not have to use as much energy to cool it down.
If you have an attic that is not insulated already or under-insulated, it is important that you insulate it right away, as well as install an attic fan. You can cool costs up to 10 percent by upgrading 3 inches insulation to 12 inches.
Finally, don’t use landscaping that has a lot of unshaded cement, asphalt or rock on the west or south sides since it will increase temperatures around your home and radiate heat to your home once the sun sets.