If You’re Using Air Conditioning, Consider a Few Adjustments

Whether or not you believe in global warming, it's hard not to aware that summer temperatures have been getting higher over the past few years. Coupled with energy prices that seem to be rising rapidly, heat is costing many homeowners a pretty penny. Some choose to accept it, but others are finding the expense of cooling their homes is just too much to bear. Besides moving to Alaska (not that there's anything wrong with moving to Alaska), what's a budget-oriented person to do? Dampen the bed sheets at night, like they did before electricity? Luckily, there have been some advances since those times, and there are real ways other than conventional, ineffective air conditioning to stay cool and relaxed. Here are but a few of them.

To begin, examine your windows, especially those facing west. Think about covering them with dark, heavy-weight curtains or blinds that are specially designed to prevent the heat from coming in. Most home improvement stores have such coverings, and they really do go a long way toward keeping a room cool. Once night falls, feel free to tug or retract your new window coverings and open the windows up. This allows for some nice cross-ventilation, which will allow you to fall asleep in comparative comfort without having to use the a/c at all.

If you have French doors leading to a deck, install an awning. It will help keep the sun out and gives you a cool area to hang out in other than inside your expensive-to-cool house. If it's still hot in your house at night, aim a fan at the bed; fans do use energy of course, but far less than central air conditioning or wall/window units. Low-E windows help, too. They might cost you a bit on the front end, but they'll pay for themselves over time. Another alternative for homeowners is to get a large ventilating fan in the attic, using it at night in order to pull colder air through the open windows and into the house, concurrently pushing hot air into the roof area.

In some sectors of the country, there is no getting around using your air conditioner. When using the air conditioner is essential, make sure that you are using it the most useful way possible. Be sure to check and make sure that appliances that cause heat (like a TV or lamp) are not close to your thermostat. This helps make sure that your thermostat isn't making the mistake of thinking that the house is hotter than it really is. A low energy air conditioning system is another power saver if you can manage the funds to make this happen. If you are getting a new air conditioner, decide on the size cautiously. You don't want to get too large of a unit. Though a large air conditioner will cool a room very quickly, it can result in your room feeling clammy because it won't deal with the humidity as well. A larger system will also cost you more money.

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