Keeping Your Cool: How to “summerize” your home and save on utility costs
Posted on Aug 07, 2009 - 09:10 PM
By: Amy Roth
Summers in the Pacific Northwest are known for being moderate, mild even when compared with other parts of the US. This year however is going down in the record books as the “summer that sizzled.” Not only have the triple digit temps helped set duration records up and down the coast, Portland’s heat broke the all time record for consecutive days at 90 or above, and made this July the hottest month on record.
My husband and I had been camping in eastern Oregon at Wallowa Lake when the heat started. Knowing we’d be coming home to an apartment blessed with central air-conditioning, we weren’t considering our cool 60 degree nights in the tent a luxury. That is, of course until our A/C conked out 20 minutes into our return home.
With the apartment well into the 80’s (which compared to outside felt almost comfortable) and the heat only projected to get worse in Portland we knew we needed to act fast to get the apartment cooled down, especially since an HVAC tech wouldn’t be available to come check out the unit for another 4 days.
I recalled my humid summer days of living in Boston without air conditioning and quickly put a plan in motion.
Make Friends with Fans
Though we don’t have ceiling fans, our HVAC system does have a central fan. Just getting the air moving inside the apartment helped create a breeze, which even though it didn’t drop the temperature, it did make it feel cooler. The upside of ceiling fans (if you have them) is that they use much less energy than running your air conditioner and do a much better job of circulating fresh air.
What’s more, when temps cool down at night, place your fans near open windows to help draw in cooler air from outside into your home.
A Room Without a View
Windows are great. Both our living room and bedroom have one wall that is floor to ceiling glass - great for natural light and breathtaking scenery, but not so great for keeping your home cool in the summer.
Once you’ve brought in the cool air from the night before, you’ve got to keep it in by closing up all the windows and closing all the blinds. Dark curtains or blinds will help filter the sun from entering your home and help keep it cooler.
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Household appliances like your dishwasher, washer and dryer give off heat when used. You’re best bet is to air dry or use the no-heat setting on the dishwasher to dry the dishes. Use a clothes line the “fluff/no heat” dryer setting to dry your clothes.
And cooking? You can forget about cooking. Your stove and oven will make your home even hotter. Use the heat wave as an excuse (if you even need one) to use your outdoor grill and serve up cold salads and fresh fruit. And if ever there was an excuse to save room for ice cream, this it!
Do It In the Dark
Incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy, much of which is emitted from the bulb as heat. If you haven’t already switched over your light bulbs to CFLs, (I can’t think of a better incentive to do so than a hot summer day! CFLs give off 75% less heat), make sure you turn off your lights or try using them sparingly.
Long-Term Solutions
If you own your home, there are many things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home that will keep it cooler in the summer (and ultimately warmer in the winter, too.)
Maintenance is Key
A dirty or clogged air filter will increase your air conditioner’s energy use, making it work harder than it needs to, which will eventually result in higher energy costs and in our case, a burned out compressor. Having your HVAC system properly maintained, either by yourself or a qualified professional is well worth the time and money spent.
Raise the Roof
If you were to take a bird’s eye look at the roofs in this country, you’d see more than 90% are black, which on a hot day means roof temps can reach up to 190 degrees. I’m sure you can guess what that does to the living spaces below. A lighter colored roof, or one treated with a reflective coating or radiant barrier will reflect most of the sun’s heat away from the home (especially important in warmer climates!).
Tools of the Trade
Simply adding insulation in the attic and around duct work and caulking cracks and leaks around your windows and doors will help keep your home a comfortable temperature all year long, but can also save you a lot of money on your energy bill year round. can also lower your energy bills by hundreds of dollars a year.
Plant Green, Save Green
According to the Department of Energy, trees and bushes planted around your home can reduce the energy a home uses for cooling by up to 25 percent. Deciduous trees are the most helpful in that they block the summer sun but will allow winter sun through. Evergreen trees and shrubs provide shade year round and block winds, which further reduces heating costs.
Benefits: More Than Just a Cooler Home
The upside to all of these things? Not only will you have a cooler home, but you’ll have more cold hard cash in your wallet at the end of the year. Those energy saving tips = money saving tips, too!
Resources:
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/landscaping/index.cfm/mytopic=11910
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11220
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12300
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