KEEPING YOUR HOME COOL

With the current summer heat waves going on just about everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere keeping your home cool is a priority. Being able to keep your home cool and not wasting money is even better!

Here are several things you can do that will save you money while keeping your house cooler in the heat. You probably know many, if not all, of them, but sometimes a reminder helps!

Keep the Lights Off
Yes, lights generate heat and this in turn warms up the inside of your home.  If you need to have a light on, then try to use LED bulbs since they release the least amount of heat energy of all three bulb types.  If you are still using incandescent bulbs then definitely don't turn it on and check out "5 Reasons to Switch to LED Bulbs Now."

Do Laundry After Sunset
Do laundry either at night or very early in the morning before it starts to really heat up outside. Believe it or not the machines actually do generate heat when they are in use, especially the dryer so it would be even better not to use your dryer at all and hang-dry your laundry instead!  

Take Hot Showers After Sunset
This may not have a huge effect but if you take really long showers or have the hot water heater temperature up really high, then it might.  In my house we heat our hot water using our oil burner, so yes, heat is created to make my hot water. Depending upon how your hot water is heated heat is probably released into your home.  Heat is also released into your home as the water travels through the pipes to your shower.  If you need to shower during the day then try lowering the temperature on your hot water heater or taking a cool shower instead.  

Cook Outside
Using the kitchen stove-top and/or oven releases a lot of heat into your home.  Try to do all your summer cooking outside on the barbecue.  We have a barbecue that also has a side burner so we can grill meat and veggies (see the veggie basket) and then cook rice on the side burner! 

Do Dishes After Sunset
Wash dishes, either by hand or using the dishwasher, at night.  Both of them will release heat energy whether it's from hot water generation and usage (both of them) or from the running motor of the dishwasher.

Use Windows to Your Advantage
It is usually cooler at night so open the windows and let all that cool air in and then shut them early in the morning to keep all that 'cool' in and the hot out!

Keep the Sun Out
You can block the suns heat from getting into your house in a variety of ways. The least expensive way is to just put up shades or drapes on your windows and keep them closed during the day.  Yes, I know this makes it a little darker inside, but it will keep it much cooler as well! Other Energy Efficient Window Treatment options that cost money (but are worth consideration for the future): interior or exterior blinds, awnings, high reflectivity films, insulated panels, energy efficient window screens, overhangs, shutters, storm panels.  

Fans
All a fan does is move air, it does not cool the air.  For that reason there is really no reason to keep the fan on if you are not in the room.  

• Window fans - be sure that it's blowing out of the house during the day when it is hot out and into the house at night when it's cooler out.

• Attic fans - Whole house attic fans are designed to cool the house at night while you are home instead of an air conditioner.  Whole house attic fans are much more efficient than attic ventilation fans. Learn more at "Fans in the Attic: Do they help or do they hurt?"  

• Ceiling fans - if you use ceiling fans make sure they are spinning in the correct direction. You want the fan to move the air down in the summer. Refer to the image from Delmar Fans.  

Photo from http://www.delmarfans.com

Fireplace Flue: Open or Closed?
The chimney effect can either help you or hurt you. If you are not using air conditioning you can open it at night and cool your house similar to the whole house attic fan.   Read more at "Home Cooling With Your Fireplace."  Pretty creative idea, however, if you are using an air conditioner you definitely want to always keep the flue closed.  The chimney will become a vacuum as the hot air rises and it will pull your costly cooled air right up and out too!  You might consider sealing the damper - read more at "Chimney Dampers: Stop the Fireplace Draft."

Seal Drafty Windows and Doors
Be sure all windows and doors are sealed and that there is no hot air coming in. Remember, heat flows from high to low so in the summer hot air will come in the house any way it can and it will raise the indoor temperature.  This in turn will make your AC work harder to maintain temperature (if you have one) and of course that's a waste of money. 

Air Conditioners

Window and Ductless Air Conditioners:

• Window and ductless air conditioners are way more economical than a central unit.  First, they are much  less expensive to buy, and, second, you can easily control which rooms are being cooled and which are not.  
• Energy Star models with an EER of 10.0 or better are the most efficient - the higher the number the less it costs to operate and Energy Star Certified means it has been tested.   Many older models are not this high and thats ok, just remember that if you do buy a new one in the future the higher the EER the better.
• Be sure that the air conditioner is sized properly for the room or area that you are using it for.  If it is too big it wastes energy (and money) and if it is too small it also wastes energy (and money).  Kind of like Goldilocks....ha ha. Check out Properly Sized Room Air Conditioners for more information.
• Only use the air conditioner when you really need it - in other words if it is nice out then open the windows instead!
• Turn off the AC when you are not using the room or, at the very least, raise the temperature.  At night when we go to bed at night we shut off the living room AC completely and during the day we keep the bedroom AC turned off completely.
• The temperature is a tough one because everyone is different.  We keep ours set at 75° when we are using it.  This works for me, but some people keep it a little warmer and others like it a little cooler.  Just remember the higher the temperature you set it at, the more economical it is.  
• Keep the doors to any rooms you do not need to cool closed!  Why cool rooms you're not using?  I already told you I don't keep the AC on in our bedroom during the day. Why waste the energy? But I also don't leave the door open so I am not 'inadvertently' cooling it with the living room AC. The same goes for all the other rooms in the house we are not using.
• Replace or clean the filter regularly.  A dirty filter wastes money.  I just vacuum it good whenever I vacuum the room and about once a month I will actually wash it.
• If your AC has an energy saver setting, then use it!
•  Additional Maintenance Tips for Your Window Air Conditioner

Central Air Conditioners:

• Be sure you have a programmable thermostat!  With a programmable thermostat you can set the temperature of the house based on your home use.  When you are at work all day you can raise the temperature. Then you can set it to a lower temperature a little before you arrive home.  This can go a long way to help your central ac unit be more cost effective.
• Keep the unit maintained (just like you would an oil burner).  You can either hire a professional or watch the DIY video below from Columbia Water & Light.
• Other tips to increase the efficiency of your central AC unit can be found on the second video below also from Columbia Water & Light.    FYI - thats Columbia, Missouri :-)

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