Beat the Heat in Your Home

According to the US Energy Department, 56 percent of the energy used in an average home is devoted to heating and cooling. That constitutes the largest energy expense for most homes.

When most of the country is experiencing record heat this summer, it's important to find ways to improve cooling efficiency. If money was no object, there are new, innovative cooling systems that you could implement in your home. Adding insulation, upgrading appliances and air conditioners and adding trees to your property for shade are all excellent ideas. For many of us the cost of such projects is often prohibitive though. Fortunately there are some steps we can take that will maximize the cooling systems we do have available and help save both energy and money.

Ventilation is important and in areas where humidity isn't a factor, is an inexpensive form of cooling. Ceiling fans and window fans can keep air circulating and help distribute cooler air throughout your home. Fans placed in windows should be positioned so that they draw out warm air from your home in daytime, then reversed to draw cool air into your home at night.

Heat and humidity can also build up in your attic and eventually affect cooling on lower levels of your house. Remember to ventilate there as well by opening louvers and roof vents, or simple a window in an upper level that isn't being cooled otherwise.
Heat naturally rises, so raising windows on an uncooled upper level will create a vacuum effect helping to pull air into lower level rooms.

On hot or sunny days keep as much heat from entering your home as possible. This will increase your air conditioner's efficiency. Keep outside doors and windows closed, of course, as well curtains drawn and shades or blinds pulled down. Use weather stripping or caulk to seal any cracks around doors or windows where hot air can leak in and cool air escape.

Try to avoid heat and humidity buildup in your home in the first place. Both large and small appliances generate heat. If possible, do laundry in the cooler hours of early morning or evening and take showers or baths then as well. Your hot water heater won't be reheating during the hottest part of the day and the electricity rates are cheaper then, too.

Skip the candles. While it might be more romantic to have candles burning, the flame generates more heat than you'd imagine. If you turn out the lights to save electricity and light several candles instead, you are literally burning up your money by increasing the heat your air conditioner must combat.

Avoid cooking large meals. Stoves and ovens will quickly heat up the kitchen. Use the microwave, grill outside or get take out. Televisions, stereos and even computers will increase the amount of heat generated in a room, so limit their use during periods of hot weather. Resist the urge to spend long minutes gazing into the refrigerator. Frequent opening will cause your refrigerator to run longer and more often to maintain the proper temperature inside.

Obviously if you have air conditioning, keeping the unit running at peak efficiency should be a priority. Remember to clean or replace the filters. Whether it is a window until or central air, having some sort of shade to keep the sun off the unit will also help. Inside, make sure that vents are not blocked by curtains or furniture and that air flow isn't restricted. It does no good to have cool air if it can't circulate.

Raising the thermostat is a simple way to save cooling costs. For every one degree you raise it, you will save two percent on your energy bill.

Finally, simple things like drinking plenty of cool liquids and wearing lightweight, loose fitting clothing will help keep your body temperature down, at least until you open your next electric bill.