| 1)
Know your numbers. If you have central air
conditioning, 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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|
| 2)
Don't overcool. Don't turn your thermostat
lower than normal to cool your home faster. It
won't work. |
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|
| 3)
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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| 4)
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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| 5)
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. |
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| 6)
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 morning and western windows in the
afternoon. |
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| 7)
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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| 8)
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 at the same time you
run the air conditioner. 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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| 9)
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. |
