Keep your cool, and your money
I got this great email from Kudzu (a reviewer based website for local companies) on tips to keep cool this summer while not taking a big dip in you Electric AC bill.
1. With a programmable thermostat, you can auto-adjust your air conditioner setting at night or when no one is home. There’s no need to cool the house when you are out enjoying the sun.
2. Move lamps, TVs and anything else that heats up away from your air conditioning thermostat. They may cause the air conditioner to run longer. Since the thermostat only reads the temperature around it, it thinks that the room temperature is hotter than it actually is.
3. Give your south-side some attention. Install awnings on south-facing windows, or apply sun-control or other reflective films. Some solar-friendly homes have overhangs on the room that efficiently shade the house during the hot summer months and also allow the light to strike the house during the winter months.
4. Let your windows wear white. Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.
5. Plant smart — trees or shrubs can help shade air conditioning units. Just make sure not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity, thus saving you money.
Want some more tips - keep reading..
6. If you plan on getting some roofing done, using light shingles on a new roof can cut the amount of heat the house absorbs. Repainting in a light color, especially south- and west-facing exterior areas, helps as well. Though this might be costly at first, if you plan on staying at your home fore many years, this will help you save in the long run.
7. Just a few deciduous trees, properly placed around a house, can save a few hundred dollars in annual cooling and heating costs. Plant on the south and west sides. In summer, daytime air temperatures can be 3 degrees to 6 degrees cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods.
8. If all else fails, take a vacation. Escape to a tropical locale where there is sand and surf to go along with the sun, or try an Alaskan cruise and cool off with some glaciers. Now is a great time to travel, as airlines scramble for customers in a fearful economy. Don’t forget to turn off the air conditioner before you leave.
Here are some other Summer to-do list tips from Frugal Mania.
