Watch SustainLane's editor Jordana Gustafson discuss this on ABC's View From the Bay.
A: Luckily, there are dozens of affordable, do-it-yourself actions you can take NOW to keep the heat out, and put the freeze on your energy bills. The tips offered here are listed in order from easy and instantly gratifying (and cooling!) to low-cost or more involved, but with big payback.
- Don’t be a blow hard! Running your AC all night long, or when you’re away for the day wastes energy. Set your thermostat to cool just when you really need it, and to a reasonable temperature- 74-75° F is sufficient for most people, especially if you’re in a climate that’s dry in the summer.
- ‘Nuke it. Use your microwave to cook. Turning on the stove for small summer meals wastes energy and heats up your home.
- Decorate! Hang light colored window coverings. They reflect heat and light.
- Keep window coverings closed on south- and west-facing windows during the day to keep temperatures from rising inside.
- Mind your ‘fridge and clean those dirty coils! Clean coils help a refrigerator run more efficiently. The smoother it runs, the less heat it will release into your home.
- Turn over a new leaf and grow house plants. According to NASA, they clean the air by converting pollutants into plant food. Clean air will make your home feel fresher when the heat is on.
- Plant a tree! Grow a deciduous shrub or small tree outside south- or west-facing windows to help block light and heat during the summer.
- Don’t be a dim bulb! Use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) where appropriate. Regular lamps release about 90% of their energy as heat. CFLs use more of their energy to create light, not to heat your home.
- Ok - be a blow hard! Install an EnergyStar ceiling fan. Air movement makes people feel cooler.
- Give your house new clothes. Insulate your walls and attic to keep hot air outside where it belongs!
- Show the sun where to stick it! Install awnings on your south- and west-facing windows to block sun during the heat of the day.
- Look to the sky and make your roof a cool roof! Reflective coatings or membranes installed on existing roofs will reduce roof temperatures by up to 60 degrees, and therefore lower the temperature in your house.
Doing what you can to stay cool on the cheap does double-duty by saving scarce energy resources. Happy cooling!
Angela Wallis is the Resource Conservation Manager for King County Housing Authority in suburban Seattle, and lives the energy-saving dream everyday
Abby G. says:
Has anyone tried cleaning the coils on their fridge? This is new to me. Does it need to be unplugged? What am I looking to clean off and what cleaning material should I use. Thanks.
Susan E. says:
Great post, Angela! These are some awesome tips. I'd echo Abby - I'm not sure how to clean my coils...I'm off to google search that now!
Jay G. says:
Great post! I prefer not to microwave my food, however. I'll invest in the gas on this one.
Fatima O. says:
When I've cleaned the coils on my fridge, I've just pulled the fridge out a bit so that I could access the back, left it plugged in, then vacuumed the coils. I've noticed that overtime, they get really dusty. Hope this helps!
Angela Wallis says:
Hi readers! Thanks for posting comments. Yes, I think Fatima's method is sufficient. But, I like using a damp cloth better because I think it allows for a more thorough cleaning. No need to unplug.
Angela Wallis says:
About microwaving your food; I recommend cooking in the microwave only for foods or dishes that need a short re-heat or cook time. Like many of you, I'm also concerned about reducing nutrient value.
Bill S. says:
Besides setting the thermostat higher on your AC, think about turning it off if you're leaving the house for the entire day. You wouldn't let your car engine run if you were having dinner and a movie, so there's no reason to have your AC turn on and off while you're away from home. Also, close the curtains or blinds in the morning. Keep the cool air in and stop the sun from heating up your home.
Ceiling fans are good, but installing a solar fan in your attic can really save you some money. You add a lid to a pot of water to get it boiling faster, well, your roof and attic increase the temperature in your home. A cooler attic will save you money on your electric bill and a solar fan will pay for itself in less than one summer season. It works from sunup to sundown. There's nothing to plug in and works right out of the box. Solar fans are also very easy to install.
John W. says:
Great column Angela,
an addition to the a/c issue: if you have a basement furnace then just recirculating air by having the fan on (but not a/c) can bring that nice cool air up where it's needed. The fan uses electricity of course but I assume a lot less than a/c (?)
Angela Wallis says:
Indeed; the fan will use less energy than creating and circulating conditioned air.
Julia R. says:
Great post Angela! Thanks for the tips. I'll add one of my own: when microwaving, be sure to use non-plastic containers (such as glass) to avoid potential chemical leeching.
Liz A. says:
Excellent points and SOOOO easy! Thanks for the reminders and hints!
Becca S. says:
We keep our home at 68 degrees in the winter and 77-78 degrees in the summer. This summer, the A/C seems to run nearly constantly, since hurricanes Lili and Rita removed 9 shade trees around the house. While we've replanted, the trees will not shade the house during our lifetime.
We live in South Louisiana and this summer, thus far, as been the hottest on record with one June day at 105 degrees, and several weeks over the 100 mark in June alone. I can hardly wait for July-August and September.
All other hints have been done long ago.
Shireen Q. says:
Great article.
Another idea is to swap out costly and eco-hazardous central air conditioners for chic eco and wallet-friendly portable air conditioners.
http://www.air-conditioner-home.com/green-ac-guide/
Bill S. says:
Keeping cool in the summer means using your brain. Open the windows to let in the early morning cool fresh air, and remember to close the windows and blinds before it starts to get warm. Trapping the cool air will help keep your home cooler and allow you to use less air conditioning.
Dushe B. says:
Another great idea is to have your cooling system cleaned and checked for proper operation.
Just a little dirty on the coils, a dirty filter, or the refrigerant charge incorrect can seriously increase the electrical consumption. The efficiency rate of new equipment will drop substantially if not maintained correctly.
Air C. says:
The compressor and the fan are combined in a single unit and mounted in the window air conditioners and this is the source of all the noise in the air conditioners. The other causes of noise could be worn bearings, cabinet rattles, dirty or rusty fan blades, worn rubber mountings and compressor wear.