Consumer Articles

Tips For Keeping Summer Cooling Costs Down

Three-quarters of new home buyers today rank energy efficiency as one of their most important considerations, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Here is a checklist to help you keep your cooling costs down this summer.

Keep your cooling system well tuned with periodic maintenance by a professional.

Make sure that ducts in your air conditioning system are properly sealed and insulated, especially those which pass through the attic or other uncooled spaces.

Install a whole-house ventilating fan in your attic or in an upstairs window to cool the house if the outside temperature is below 78 degrees Farenheit. To size a whole-house fan, compute the total volume of your home (multiply the floor area by the ceiling height) and multiply by .33. Choose a fan that has a cubic foot per minute (cfm) rating that is equal to or greater than the computed number.

Set your thermostat at 78 degrees Farenheit or higher if you can. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if every household raised air-conditioning temperatures six degrees, the equivalent of 190,000 barrels of oil would be saved every day.

Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn your air conditioner on. This uses much more energy than keeping the temperature at a constant setting.

Set the air conditioner fan speed on high except in very humid weather. When it is humid, set the fan speed at low to remove more moisture from the air even though less air is moved through the house at any given time.

Clean or replace system filters at least once a month.

Do not place lamps, TV sets or other appliances near the thermostat since heat from them is sensed by the thermostat and could cause the system to run longer than necessary.

Install ceiling-mounted paddle fans to keep air moving and to generate a breeze that will help skin feel cooler.

Keep out daytime sun with vertical louvers or awnings on the outside of your windows or draw draperies, blinds and shades.

Keep lights low or off to avoid generating excess heat in the home.

Use heat-producing applicances like ovens and irons in the early morning or late evening hours whenever possible.

Dress in lightweight, open-weave fabrics.

Let trees shade your roof, walls and windows. Broad-leafed trees on the south side of the house will filter hot summer sun but allow light through in the winter.