Ways to keep your home cool in summer
As summer temperatures — and utility bills — rise, there are some easy ways to keep cool that are cheaper and greener than air conditioning.
Cooling curtains
Pull down the shades or draw the curtains on windows facing south, east and west during the day, said Con Edison, which provides power to New York City and surrounding areas. It said 40 percent of unwanted heat comes in through the windows. Even if air conditioning is needed later in the day, drawing the curtains earlier means you can use less of it.
Be a fan of fans
Ceiling fans are a great substitute for air conditioning when it’s not overly hot or humid, and they make you feel cooler by moving air across your skin, said Meg Waltner, of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
If you need to buy fans, look for Energy Star ratings and rebate offers, she said. Also, many ceiling fans feature a light kit, so make sure each socket has an energy-saving LED bulb inside. LED bulbs use five times less energy than the old incandescents and don’t give off as much heat, Waltner said.
Plant a tree
Keeping central air conditioner filters clean adds to their efficiency. Air conditioners and cooling systems should be inspected and cleaned annually, and kept clear of leaves and dirt, experts say. Filters should be checked every three months, or more often for homes with pets.
If your AC is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star-qualified model could cut your annual cooling costs by 30 percent, Waltner said. Many local utility companies offer rebates for more efficient new models.
Learn more at www.energystar.gov/ cooling.
— AP
