Saving money on air conditioning

Summer time is quickly approaching and many homeowners are already racing to their thermostats to crank up the AC. This, in turn, causes a sky rocket in electricity use during the hot months of the year. Though Cincinnati is located in a humid climate, there are still many strategies that can be used to soften the blow of summertime electricity bills, while still keeping a house at a comfortable temperature.



Simple, low cost ideas
- Get rid of all incandescent light bulbs and replace with compact fluorescent bulbs.

• Not only are CFLs more efficients, they also produce 90% less heat than an incandescent.

-Use heat generating appliances in the morning and evening

• Dryers, dishwashers, ovens, and washing machines all produce heat when used.
• Close the door to rooms where these appliances are being used to avoid the spread of heat!

- Cover your skylights

• Skylights may be a trendy addition to a home, but they turn a room into an oven!
• Covers can be easily purchased at a relatively low price, or if you are feeling crafty, you can make one.

- Window Shading

• If a house is insulated well, most of the heat gain is from sunshine coming through windows.
• Awnings, especially on the south side of the house are great at blocking the sun's rays.
• Thick curtains and interiors shades also help block sun.
• If you aren't home during the day or don't need sunlight in your house, cover the windows during hours of peak sunlight.

- Open windows at night

- Trees and small shrubs that gain leaves in the summer can also block the sun's rays if placed in the proper locations.

- Ceiling fans

• Turning on a ceiling fan has the same effect as lowering the air temperature four degrees. ( Daniel Chiras)
  

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- Light colors

• Both roof shingles and siding can be lightly colored to avoid heat absorption.

- Low-e Windows.

• Quality low-e coated windows when properly placed and installed can block the sun's rays.

-Insulation/air sealing

• Keep warm air out by adding insulation and sealing air gaps. (especially in the attic!)

• Energy auditors can tell you if you need more insulation and air sealing.

- Whole House Fans

• An inexpensive way to pull hot air out of the house and draw cold air in.
• Open windows at night and let the fan do the work.
  

- Geothermal Cooling

• If you want to go all out, this is the system of choice.
• Similar to a refrigerator, geothermal technology removes heat from the house and releases it into the ground
• Geothermal technology is expensive, but over time it saves on energy because of it can be up to 400% efficient.

Many of these ideas can be used in tandem with AC. Turning AC off at night and using some of these techniques can save a lot of energy and money. For most in Cincinnati, air conditioners are a must have. If you are one of these people, make sure to maintain your system by regularly removing any dust or debris that accumulates on the unit. If you are buying a new air conditioner, make sure that it is energy efficient and the correct size for your home.