What are the Options?

Summer can easily become the season most expensive and toughest on the wallet, not to mention the environment.  When it comes to cooling, the most obvious products include: central AC systems, portable air conditioners, room/window conditioners, evaporative swamp coolers and fans.  Depending upon the geographic location of the home, the cooling level needed varies dramatically.

First things First – Keeping Heat Out

Before considering any type of cooling system, the best option is always to see what can be done first with installing anything.  The goal is simply to keep outside heat outside and internal heat to a minimum.  The majority of heat built up within a house comes from light through the windows.  Consider investing in clear window insulation that will keep the sun’s rays out.  Additionally, close all blinds and curtains during the peak daylight hours, especially between 11 AM and 2 PM.  Second: keep inside heat sources turned down, turned off, or contained.  All dishwashers, ovens, washing machines, clothes dryers, hot water tanks, etc., produce heat that accumulates quickly.  If the appliance is in a room that can be sectioned off, do so.  Otherwise, try to use less frequently or consider skipping it altogether for the summer months. 

If Skipping AC is Not an Option

Some areas are simply not feasible to live in without some sort of cooling.  A central AC system is the least environmentally friendly.  It’s expensive to run, cools an entire house whether you need the entire house or not, drains more energy than any other option and comes with an extensive installation cost on top of it all.  The most eco-friendly option for efficient cooling is an evaporative swamp cooler.  It can bring down room temperature by up to 20 degrees without the energy drain typical of an AC.  However, if the location is humid, it will not be an appropriate option.  In such an instance, a portable air conditioner is the top choice.  It can be moved from room to room, depending upon which room is lived in the most. 

Using an AC Efficiently

If using an AC, the key is to use it properly to cut down on energy consumption.  Only run the AC during the hottest hours.  Before and after lunch are good times and easy to remember.  Just cool down the house and then instantly turn it off.  Running it past the point of cool does nothing except waste energy.  And, if outside heat and light are blocked out, two times of cooling down should be adequate to keep the house cool for an entire day.

Easy & Natural Options

When possible, try these tips to keep the house cool naturally.  Open windows during night hours to cool down the house.  Exchange inefficient light bulbs with incandescent fluorescent bulbs.  Fix all window and door leaks.  Invest in house plants, they absorb warm carbon dioxide in exchange for cool oxygen.  Spend time out of the house during the hottest hours, running errands, playing in the park or touring local museums that are already cooled for you.