Let's face it, as much as you want to blast your AC all day long to take away the discomforts of heat, you sometimes think twice because you know that this comes with a price - the kind that involves an expensive electricity bill.
In fact, the air conditioner, along with other cooling devices, accounts for more than half of your electricity usage.
So imagine what a great deal you can save if you can cut down or even take out the use of these appliances all together.
Now that summer is just around the corner you need all the cooling help you can get.
And what better way to welcome the summer than to have a number of cooling tips up your sleeve? Most of these ideas listed below take up little to no energy at all! • Keep heat-emitting appliances away from the thermostat.
The last thing you want is your air conditioner to think that the weather is hotter than it actually is and end up using more energy then needed.
Keep away devices like televisions, stoves, or water heaters from being in close proximity to your AC.
• Keep your bathroom windows open when showering.
Not to put on a show for the neighbors, of course, but to let the humidity out instead of keeping it within the house.
If you have privacy concerns, put up a curtain that still allows hot air to escape or open up the windows after dressing.
• Turn off heat-producing devices when possible.
Light fixtures, for example, are a huge heat generator.
They also take up a huge chunk of your monthly energy consumption when unnecessarily turned on.
• Opt to use the microwave instead of the oven or stove.
Using either of the two is alright during cold winter months when the extra heat radiated from the kitchen is a welcome comfort, but when the temperatures are rising in your own home, it's best to avoid extra sources of heat.
Using the microwave isn't only a quick and cooler alternative, it's budget-friendly as well.
• Turn your AC fan to a low setting.
If you live in area with excessive humidity in the summer, then you can definitely benefit from this.
As opposed to running the fan on high, a low air volume helps your home dehumidify.
• Adjust your refrigerator settings.
A refrigerator takes the heat out of the food, or whatever you have stored in there, and lets it out to your kitchen and home, adding to the already warm temperature.
Ideally it should be set between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
The freezer should also be tweaked to about 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
By practicing these energy-saving cooling measures, not only are you cutting down your electricity consumption in half, this also means your home is emitting a lesser amount of toxins and greenhouse gases that are harmful to the environment.