Economical Ways to Cool Your Home
It is now August and the heat wave is on, at least in Ontario, Canada. We are experiencing record-breaking temperatures and our energy consumption as a province is at an all time high. How do we conserve energy when the outside temperatures are reaching 50 degrees with the humidex?
At EcoSherpa, we have a few energy saving tips that will keep you cool and reduce your energy costs and consumption.
* Keep your curtains and blinds closed. Sunlight can quickly heat up a room and house in minutes.
* Invest in a programmable thermostat. Set your thermostat at a warmer setting when you are away at work and be sure to turnour AC off when you go away on holidays. Why cool the house when you are not there to enjoy it.
* Plant a tree. Trees planted in a strategic location can reduce cooling costs by 25 percent. Plant decidous trees (maples and ash) to the south and west and evergreens (spruce and pine) to the north.
* Use ceiling and box fans to help circulate air throughout the house.
* Set the fan on your central air conditioner to “on” rather than “auto.” This will circulate air continuously, keeping the temperature constant throughout the house and aiding in dehumidification.
* If you use a window air conditioning unit, make sure it’s the proper size. A smaller air coniditioner will run more efficiently and not start and stop as frequently as an oversized unit.
* If you don’t have central air conditioning, try a whole-house attic fan. This device pushes hot air out through the attic vents, lowering the temperature throughout your home by about 5 degrees in less than 10 minutes.
Other things to avoid are running the dishwasher, cooking and ironing during the day. All of these can add heat to your house and may cause your air conditioning to work overtime. During the past 2 weeks I have been cooking outside on the BBQ and washing my dishes by hand and letting them dry in the dishrack. This has not only helped to keep my house cooler but has allowed me to conserve on energy and lessen my impact on the massivly strained power grid. Try the tips above and you will save on your energy costs and keep your home much cooler and comfortable.
Written by steve on August 2nd, 2006 with
no comments.
Read more articles on Green Energy.
- [+] Digg: Feature this article
- [+] Del.icio.us: Bookmark this article
- [+] Furl: Bookmark this article
