When the oppressive heat and humidity of summer strikes, the temperatures soar – and so do your energy bills. To keep your home cooler and reduce your energy costs, try the following tips:
Keep Out the Heat
Close your blinds, particularly in areas that receive direct sunlight.
Draft proof your home, such as adding better insulation, upgrading windows, and adding weather stripping to doors and windows. Not only will this keep out the hot summer air, but will also keep out the cold air in the winter.
Plant leafy shade trees or install retractable outdoor window awnings by sunny windows to prevent the sun from beating in your home.
Let it Flow
While a well-sealed home minimizes the heat, it also presents a problem – lack of air flow. To circulate the air, use ceiling fans or floor models. Your bathroom fan can also provide ventilation to your home.
When the temperature cools down at night, open windows for fresh air.
Heat recovery ventilators, also called ventilation fans, provide fresh air in your home by transferring heat and providing a cross-flow. Choose an ENERGY STAR model and keep it maintained for peak efficiency.
Minimize Indoor Heat Creation
Appliances are a major heat source in homes. You can reduce indoor temperatures by not using your appliances or using them sparingly. For example, use your barbeque to cook dinners, and use a toaster oven instead of your oven for baking. Cover pots to cook your food faster and turn on your range hood to vent hot air outdoors. Make enough for leftovers so that you cook once but eat twice.
Use a clothesline instead of a dryer to dry your clothes.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency and low-heat compact fluorescent lights. Turn off lights when not in immediate use.
Air Conditioners: Optimal Performance
If using an air conditioner, choose an ENERGY STAR model. Set it to about 25°C so that it runs only when necessary. Increase the temperature when no one is at home and at night when the outside temperatures are cooler.
Make sure that you change the filter regularly, and that the outside component is clear of leaves and other debris which can affect its efficiency.