Make sure your ceiling fan rotates counterclockwise during the summer.
With the steady increase in energy prices, many Americans are looking for cost-effective ways to reduce their air-conditioning use without being miserable all summer. Fortunately, there is a wide range of methods for cooling off a room without having to turn down your thermostat. With a few simple tricks, you'll stay cool as a cucumber all summer long and still have cash to spare.
Instructions
1. Turn on a fan. According to a 2008 article published in Mother Earth News, running a ceiling fan can make the room feel up to 4 degrees cooler. In the summer, make sure your ceiling fan rotates counterclockwise so that it will blow air downward. If you find that your fan is turning the wrong way, simply flip the switch at the fan's base.
If your room doesn't have a ceiling fan, you can achieve similar results with an inexpensive box fan. For a more large-scale solution, install an attic fan, which is designed to cool a house by pulling air through open windows on the first floor and blowing it out through a vent in the roof. While whole-house fans usually cost a few hundred dollars, they can reduce your energy bills by one third.
2. Install an evaporative cooling unit. These devices aren't suitable for areas with high humidity, but they do offer a low-cost option for homes in dry environments.
Evaporative cooling units help keep the house comfortable by drawing air over cold water and blowing it throughout the room. If you can't afford a commercial evaporative cooling unit, you can achieve a similar effect by placing a bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan.
3. Prevent sunlight from heating your house by installing white blinds or shades in your windows. These will reflect light away, instead of absorbing it and introducing more heat into your house. During hot parts of the day, keep curtains closed on windows that receive direct sunlight (usually south- and west-facing windows).
As an alternative to blinds and shades, you can have your windows glazed with a reflective coating that reflects the sun away from your home. These coatings are especially useful for skylights, can be difficult to shade. There is a similar coating intended for roofing materials to prevent heat from entering through the attic.
4. Landscape wisely. A 2008 article published in MSN Money Central revealed that houses in shady neighborhoods are naturally 3 to 6 degrees cooler than unshaded houses.
If you have a room in your house that is consistently hot, try shading it with a tree or two. Deciduous trees are especially helpful, because they provide shade in the summer while still allowing for natural heat in the winter. If you don't want to plant trees, try growing ivy attached to a trellis on your home's south-facing walls.
5. Move plants out of the room. Indoor plants raise the humidity of a room, which can cause the room to feel several degrees hotter than it actually is. Put your house plants outside.
Run bathroom exhaust fans while you take a shower to keep the bathroom from becoming humid. You can also cut down on humidity by letting your dishes air dry and venting your clothes dryer to the outside of your house (if it isn't already set up that way).
6. Minimize appliance use. Many appliances produce heat, so save your cooking, dishes and laundry tasks until after sunset. Turn off appliances such as the TV and computer when you're not using them, and change your incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs.
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