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Know
your numbers. Set your thermostat to 78°F or
more during the summer, 85°F or more when you leave
your home for more than four hours. Unless you have
furniture, art or equipment that could be damaged
by excessive heat, turn your cooling unit off when
you leave your home for more than 24 hours. |
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Don't
overcool. Don't turn your thermostat lower than
normal to cool your home faster. It won't work. |
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Keep
heat-producing appliances away from your thermostat.
Heat emitted by television sets, lamps, and other
appliances will make your cooling system work harder. |
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Use
zone cooling. To avoid wasting energy -- and
money -- cooling a room you're not using, close
doors and/or vents to that room. (To avoid damage
to your central cooling system, close off no more
than one-fourth of the area of your home.) |
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Cool
naturally. Take advantage of breezy days by
opening doors and windows and turning off your cooling
system. Cross-ventilation (breezes from opposite
sides of your home) is the best. On breezeless days,
portable or ceiling fans can help you stay cool
for a fraction of the cost of air conditioning.
TIP: Some homeowners recommend this 'folk remedy'
for nighttime cooling: open windows on opposite
sides of your home and put a fan in one window,
directed outward. This forces hot air out while
cool air comes in from the opposite windows. Of
course, security experts might advise against keeping
windows open all night, and might suggest installing
a whole house fan and secure window vents instead.
The window vents allow the window to be partially
opened and locked against intruders while allowing
cool outside air to ventilate the house. |
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Use
your shades. Closing drapes and shades -- especially
on southern windows -- will help keep the sun out
and your home cool. Cover eastern windows in the
mornings and western windows in the afternoon. |
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Beware
of humidity. When outdoor temperatures rise,
avoid activities that generate humidity, such as
cooking, bathing, laundering, and dishwashing. Wait
until the early morning or evening. Your kitchen's
exhaust fan will help get rid of heat and moisture,
in addition to cooking odors. |
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Use
air conditioning wisely. You can still control
your cooling costs on days when you have to use
your air conditioner. Keep all your doors and windows
shut and avoid using a humidifier or evaporative
("swamp") cooler. The leaks, drafts, and moisture
added by humidifiers and evaporative coolers force
the air conditioner to work harder and use more
energy. |
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Consider
your landscaping. In the summer, leafy trees
provide cool shade. In the winter, bare branches
allow the sun to warm your home. Small shrubs can
block heat reflected from patios and pavement. And
planting vines over southern windows can reduce
the effect of the sun's heat. |
Heating
