There are plenty of simple actions you can take, free or inexpensive, to help keep your home cool as temperatures rise outside. And many of these tips are energy efficient, helping you save on utility bills.
Use Your Windows to Regulate Temperature
∙ During cool nights in the spring and early summer, use natural ventilation with open windows on first and second floors. A breezy evening will bring cooler air into the home that faces the wind on lower levels and a vacuum effect will draw out hotter air on the top floor on the downwind side.
∙ Installing window treatments, blinds, and outdoor awnings on the sunniest side of your home helps keep heat out and cool air inside during the day.
Pay Attention to Thermostat Settings
∙ The closer you keep the thermostat setting to the temperature outside, the lower your cooling bill will be. Set it at a comfortable level, but on the high side.
∙ Install a programmable thermostat so that the temperature automatically goes up when you’re not home and lowers when you return. Temperatures near 77 to 78 degrees (F) are considered optimal levels.
∙ Avoid turning down the thermostat lower than your standard at-home temperature in hopes of cooling it down faster. This works your cooling system harder, doesn’t speed the process, and could result in an excessively cold house, which wastes energy.
Use Fans and Ventilation
∙ Using a ceiling fan in combination with air conditioning allows you to raise the thermostat setting about 4 degrees (F) without sacrificing comfort.
∙ Remember to turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Ceiling fans create a wind chill effect that cools people, not rooms.
∙ Ventilate rooms that generate humidity, such as the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Make sure that air ventilates to the outside, not just the attic.
Avoid Heating Up Your Home with Appliance Usage
∙ On particularly hot days, opt to use the grill, microwave, or stove top rather than the oven for cooking. This will prevent extra heat generation.
∙ Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes. Consider letting them air dry.
∙ Take short showers instead of hot baths. Heating water accounts for about 18 percent of energy consumed in the home.
∙ Minimize using a lot of appliances that generate heat: running the dishwasher, using curling irons and hair dryers, or even leaving on televisions, stereos, and computers for extended periods.
Seal Up Cracks and Gaps
∙ Seal cracks and gaps to prevent warm air from leaking into your home.
∙ Use caulk or weatherstripping around leaky doors and windows.
If you’re unsure where to make energy improvements in your home, conduct an energy audit. There are self-assessment articles available online or search for a professional energy auditor for more precision.