In preparing for the summer time and warmer temperatures there are many ways in which you can save energy and money in your household. Many cases involve altering how you manage your appliances and electronics. Some will also apply to how you treat your own person. Regulating your body’s internal furnace is also practical in being comfortable in your home.
Air Flow
The more obvious changes that one can make is how you cool your home. Simply cranking up your air conditioning can be expensive and sometimes not even very practical. When the outside temperature climbs in the summer time, it forces your air conditioner to work harder to achieve that cool temperature. While this may be the easiest way to drop the temperature in your home it can be very costly.
Creating a draft or cross breeze is a good way to get the air in your home to be less dense or thick feeling. Running ceiling fans are a good way to get a breeze going, also opening up some windows can help to achieve this. Don’t just open a window that will only allow for the cool air to escape. Open windows on opposite sides of a room or your home to create a cross breeze and keep the air moving. This can be cheaper than turning the air conditioner down to 68 degrees, which it probably won’t even achieve.
Block Sunlight
When you leave your house for a long period of the day, be mindful of all your doors and windows that allow sunlight to enter into your home. Using curtains or blinds to block the light will help to keep your home darker and cooler over these extended periods of time, especially during the peak hours of the day.
Just like your car you can also tint your windows to block the UV rays from getting inside as well. The darker a room is the cooler it will be is a general rule of thumb. You can even purchase special UV blocking curtains that are specifically made for this purpose. They have an extra protective coating and are a little bit thicker than conventional curtains. These types of curtains are more expensive up front, but can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.
Appliances
Running appliances such as your washer, dryer, dish washer, iron, oven, as well as others will generate heat in your home from the inside out. Limit the use of these items during the warmer periods of the day, and use them after the sun has gone down. This is especially important for smaller square footage homes and apartments where the impact of such items is more felt.
Your Own Body
Not always should you just think about the things that are surrounding you. Be mindful of what you are putting in your body that will change how you feel. Wearing loose and light knit clothing will help to regulate your body temperature. Your body is also a furnace that generates heat, staying consistently at 98.6 degrees. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and make cold meals that are refreshing to eat. Salads, cold sandwiches and fruits are great foods to eat during the summer time.
This article was written by Nick Quinlan. nick is a Florida native who is no stranger to the summer heat. He is also a professional writer for FacemyerAC.com. You can learn more about Nick by visiting his Google+.