Over the last few months I have gleefully watched as my electric bill slowly but surely got cheaper and cheaper. While it’s sad that I am incredibly excited that my electric bill finally dropped below the one hundred dollar mark this month, I know that if I’m not careful it could climb back up again during the summer when I trade my wall heater for the portable air conditioner. Granted, with the weather just now starting to climb into the sixties where I live I’m not too worried, but I know that there are people who live outside of the Pacific Northwest who are already starting to feel the need for cooling devices.
The good news is this: there are plenty of ways that you can keep your home cool without spending a fortune on cooling costs. Here are just a few of them:
1. Install heat-reflecting film on all windows that get direct sunlight. This film is relatively inexpensive and can easily be installed yourself in an afternoon. The great thing about this film is that it lets the light in but absorbs the heat as it passes through the glass and keeps it from seeping into your home.
2. Plant some deciduous plants in front of windows. The best plan is to plant deciduous trees because, once the trees get tall, they will not only provide shade outside, but they will also help shade your windows and block the sun. If you choose deciduous trees, they will allow the sunlight through in the winter but block it in the summer!
3. Open the windows when it is cool out (evenings and mornings) and close them when the day heats up. This will allow the house to cool off and it will help keep the temperatures down during the heat of the day. You want to open windows and doors that face in different directions to keep the air flowing through your home.
4. Keep the air moving. Use the “fan only” setting on your cooling unit and couple it with portable fans. A still room is usually a few degrees warmer than a room in which the air is moving.
5. Try to keep your laundry, dish washing and showering confined to the mornings and evenings. Water use adds humidity to your home which can raise the temperature.
6. Keep the electricity use to a minimum. Because the days are longer, you won’t need to use your lamps as much. Turn off home electronics that aren’t being used. You will be amazed at how much heat gets pumped into your home simply by watching television or leaving a desktop computer on all day.
These are just a few hints to help you keep your home cool over the summer and conserve energy (and keep your electric bill low). Over the summer there will be more installments of this. After all, staying cool is important and there are plenty of ways to stay cool and save money at the same time!
