Cooling Down Without the Hot $Tag!

Hey, it is getting hot! But that air conditioning can suck up precious dollars and resources. What else can you do?

1. Use ceiling fans and other fans around your home. Supposedly, even if you ran a power hungry fan 12 hrs/day for 30 days it should only cost you $10 - still less than running your air for the same.

2. Close your shades, blinds and curtains in the am - especially on the east side. The sun won't be able to heat up the air in your house - air or no air.

3. Don't put a lamp or other heat generating appliance next to your thermostat. Your air will run and your house will be an ice box.

4. Switch light bulbs. Incandescents give off a lot of inefficient energy in heat. Every little bit makes a difference.

5. Service your A/C. A clean A/C cost less to run than a dirty one.

6. Plant trees and /or shrubs around your air conditioner. An A/C in the shade costs less to run. Just don't block the airflow! While you are at it - plant trees strategically to shade your home. Less heat in - less energy to cool it down. Avoid the south - so as not to block your winter solar passive heating.

7. I am not big on this one - but hey it would work - you can change to a white roof, or paint yours white. Not sure what the neighbors would think, but if you have a barn etc. This might work.

8. Humidity makes a room feel hotter. Minimize humidity creating activities in the middle of the day.

9. Upgrade your attic insulation if it is not up to par. A switch from 3 inches to 12 inches of insulation can cut you cooling costs by 10%.

10. If you are buying a new A/C make sure it is sized to your square footage and is as efficient as possible.

11. Seal your ducts in your crawl, basement etc.