Use white curtains to reflect heat and light from your windows and to keep your home cool.
Keeping your home cool in the warmer months is essential; however, so is having money in your pocket. Running the air conditioner adds up rather quickly, and can put you into a state of panic when you open your utility bill. We all know that setting the thermostat up a few degrees will save you money. In fact, you can cut your utility bill by six to seven percent for each degree your air conditioner is set above 78 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you can employ other methods in your quest to cool your home that will save you a few bucks.
Instructions
1. Run ceiling fans. Running the fans will move cool air through your home, which will make the temperature more comfortable. Be sure to set your ceiling fans so that you can feel the air blowing down on you, as opposed to drawing the air up toward the ceiling. If running the fans alone just isn't cutting it, use them in conjunction with your air conditioner. Doing so will help to distribute the cool air from the air conditioner throughout the home and will allow you to set the thermostat higher.
2. Open your windows. If you think the outdoor air won't do much to the air temperature inside your home, think again. Even air that moves just one mile per hour can make you feel three to four degrees cooler.
3. Run the fan on your furnace. Using the fan instead of the actual air conditioning can help cool your house by distributing air throughout your home and it is cheaper. Your thermostat will likely have a switch that allows you to only run the fan.
4. Place white blinds, shades and curtains over your windows. Doing so will draw the heat away from the windows, preventing any excess hot air from getting inside. Draw the curtains on your south- and west-facing windows during the day and install outdoor awnings over those that look toward the south. Placing a tree or trellis outside your west-facing windows will also keep the sun and hot air away from the windows.
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