This time of year we are all turning on our air conditioning and thinking about how to save in energy. As the electrical bill rises here are a few options to keep costs down and to stay comfortable and cool this summer.
Minimizing the use of your Air Conditioner
- Every night open the windows to let the cooler air in and if you have fan’s blow the hot air out of the upper floors in your house.
- In the morning keep the cool air in by closing all the windows and drawing the blinds so that the sunlight won’t heat up the room. If you have ever wondered why the European countries have shutters on the outside of their windows, they have been using this technique for centuries.
- If your home is well insulated for the winter it will also have the reverse effect in the summer and keep it cool. Are there any drafts in the winter that you know of? Hot Air will also find it’s way in during the summer unless you seal it to make it air tight.
- Don’t let your house heat up from the inside. Even changing your light bulbs to halogen is a great idea from saving electricity to not producing heat. Barbeque outside when possible. Keep cooking inside to a minimum when possible. When is the last time you cooked with your microwave?
- Is your attic ventilated? If you have proper insulation and ventilate your roof properly the heat won’t reach 66C. Installing ventilation fan’s in your attic will reduce the amount of heat that contributes to your indoor temperatures.
- Your dishwasher uses an extraordinary amount of electricity to dry your dishes. If you can catch it try to turn it off during the drying cycle and if you can wait for a full load and run it at night.
Use Your Air Conditioning more efficiently
- Set your air conditioner on a timer. Set the timer to turn off during the day and turn on 2 hours before you get home.
- Raise the temperature a degree every day. Your body will adjust. Take off your down filled duvet and sleep in a higher room temperature.
- Try not to drastically lower the temperature at once.
- When you are out of your home longer than 24 hours turn your AC off.
- If you have an AC unit outside is it shaded? Keeping it shaded will cut the amount of energy it uses to keep it cool.
All in all we should be conscious of not contributing to a black out. If you were to flip your main breaker on your house how much energy would you save? Now try to find everything you can to switch off when you go out. From power bars to all lights, anything that requires the slightest but of power will potentially produce heat, raise your electrical bill and create unwanted heat in your home when you are not there.
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