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The Heat Is On - Tips for Staying Cool and Saving Money Too

Posted by lmulford on 07/18/11

The dog days of summer are officially here so instead of dialing down the air conditioner a few degrees, try some of these tips for staying cool and reducing your utility bill at the same time.

Be a Fan of Fans. Using stationary, ceiling and whole-house fans is one of the greenest ways to keep your cool in the summer. They use less energy than central air and window units, are less expensive to install and best of all, can dramatically lower utility bills by reducing the need to rely on air conditioning. I have a whole house fan in my home and ceiling fans in all the bedrooms and using them efficiently is an amazing energy saver.
Install a programmable thermostat. This is a great investment. In the first year after installation, you can reduce your energy bills by more than you paid for the thermostat. For every degree you raise your thermostat, you reduce your cooling costs between 7 and 10 percent. Even if you don’t have a programmable one, set it higher when you’re out of the house for any length of time. Read more
Close your blinds or shades during the hottest part of the day. Opt for white window shades, blinds or drapes to reflect heat away from the house, and be sure to close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day. Read more.
Use heat-generating appliances sparingly. Avoid using the oven on hot days -- use the microwave, cook on the stove, grill outside or my favorite - treat yourself to dinner out. Get more tips on avoiding heat buildup.
Visit the Library. When the power was out for a number of residents after the last storm, the library was a very busy place. It’s air conditioned and during July you can also enjoy the free dinosaur exhibit, Origins: The Dawn of Dinosaurs Check it out and all of the other summer activities happening at AHML.