As the world warms up we will be using our air conditioning units more and more. How we cool our homes and our offices will become very important. Whether you rent or own your own home there are things you can do that will help keep your home cool in the warm months and your electricity bills under control. Some of these ideas may seem a little extravagant but they are becoming more practical year by year.
Cover Your Windows Efficiently
Save money on air conditioning
This may seem like a no-brainer to most of you but how you cover your windows makes a big difference. Just throwing up some curtains your wife thinks look lovely may make your cooling problems worse, not better. You’ll want to spend a few extra dollars to keep the sunlight’s heat in its proper place: outdoors.
First, if you own your home and can plant trees in your yard, you should consider planting a shade tree in front of each window. A good distance of 5-10 feet should be wise, although you want to be careful about where you dig up the dirt.
Shade trees can take a few years to grow in so consider buying trees that grow quickly in your area.
As an alternative, you can put up a garden trellis in front of your windows and plant vines or hang planters. This looks better than the usual window awning.
As a last resort, put an awning over your window. If you can find something attractive and sturdy (be mindful of the winds in your area) all the better.
Covering the inside of the window is a little more complicated because you may have to satisfy your spouse’s fashion sense (or your own). Don’t just hang curtains, though. Invest in some light-blocking or thinning window liners. The sheer liners are a good compromise as long as they are light in color. We prefer white.
We also hang white mini-blinds in our windows to reflect the light and give us control over how much light comes in during the day and out during the evening.
There are some nice curtains on the market now that also block light very well. You don’t want your rooms to be like caves but when the sun is beating down on one side of your house it can make a big difference if you block it out completely.
Do Basic Preventive Maintenance on Your A/C
This is important for both renters and homeowners. If you have a dedicated outside air conditioning unit you should visually inspect it once a week to look for problems, especially icing. The sooner you catch these problems the less expensive it will be to have them fixed.
Don’t try to be your own heating and repair guy. Just learn to look for problems so that you know when to call for help.
If you have exposed ducts, inspect those at least once a month so you know condition they are in. Leaks in ceilings can lead to rot all around, and your ducts might be exposed.
Control moisture throughout your home. If you live in a high humidity area consider buying products like Damp-Rid to soak up the moisture in the air. These products can also help get rid of some odors associated with mold and mildew.
Check your air conditioning filters at least once a month. When a filter becomes clogged with dirt and filth the air conditioner has to work harder at moving air through the system.
It’s also a good idea to buy the most expensive air filters because they keep the air moving through your home much cleaner than the cheap ones. There are three filter rating systems: MERV, MPR, and FPR. The 3M Company set up the MPR rating system for their products. The Home Depot set up the FPR system for their products. The MERV system was set up by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers.
I recommend only using filters with values at least equal to MERV 12 or MPR 1300 or FPR 9. These are close to each other in measuring what they filter out.
Finally, clean all the vents in your home at least once a month. I mean take them off their mountings and get rid of the dust and dirt on both sides. You are breathing this stuff in but it’s also impeding the flow of air through your home, making your air conditioner work twice as hard.
It’s also a good idea to keep the doors to your rooms open so the air can move freely throughout your home.
Replace All Your Light Bulbs
You might think this has nothing to do with air conditioning but in reality it does. Traditional incandescent light bulbs generate a lot of heat because they burn inefficiently. If you replace your incandescent lighting with LED bulbs you’ll not only save money on electricity you’ll also reduce the amount of excess heat that is produced throughout your home.
Your air conditioner has to fight against every source of heat in your house: that includes you, your dog, your cat, your computer, your television set, and your light bulbs.
You’re not as likely to change your pets and computer but changing your light bulbs makes a lot of sense. LED bulbs are coming down in price but they are still more expensive than incandescent bulbs. Don’t worry. They usually pay for themselves in electric bill savings within a few months.
Replace Your Appliances and Electronics with Energy-efficient Models
I know you’re not likely to do this but there will come a time when you are ready to spend that kind of money. Although all these modern products are supposed to use less electricity than their predecessors, the manufacturers keep adding new features, which use more electricity. So be careful to compare the energy ratings on whatever you buy to replace your older appliances and electronics.
If you can save money on the amount of electricity these things use that means they are producing less heat and that means your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool.
In Conclusion
Your home is one big breathing system that generates heat and circulates air. You want to reduce the amount of heat your home produces in the summer while keeping the air that you breathe clean and healthy.
Here are a few Websites with more ideas about how you can save money at home.