It’s the middle of summer, and things are really heating up. Here’s a few things you can do to keep cool during these sunny summer months:
- Open windows and use portable and ceiling fans to keep air moving.
- Make sure ceiling fans are set for summer (the air should blow downward).
- If you have a window air conditioner, place a fan in front to circulate cool air throughout the house.
- Keep TVs and lamps away from your thermostat; the heat from these appliances can cause the air conditioner to run longer.
- Use a programmable thermostat to adjust the air conditioning while you are asleep or at work.
- Stick to white shades, drapes, and blinds for windows to reflect heat away from your home.
- During the day, close curtains on windows facing south and west.
- Give your air conditioning unit some shade by planting trees or shrubs. Make sure they don’t block the unit’s airflow.
- Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs which use a fifth of the energy and heat of incandescent bulbs.
- Turn off computers and computer monitors when not in use.
- Lower the thermostat on your water heater (115° is usually comfortable).
- Caulk and weatherstrip to keep cool air inside your home.