Ways to Reduce
Your
Air-Conditioning Bill
By Keesa Renee DuPre
Photo: © Daniel Gillies - fotolia.com
Paying the power bill is no fun when air conditioning time rolls around. But did you know that there are a few simple steps you can take now to reduce that killer bill? Read on!
Insulate - This is the most expensive of all the steps, but also the most useful. Insulation is not just good for keeping heat in during the winter; it also keeps heat out during the summer! The better your insulation, the less you'll have to pay this summer to keep your house cool.
Install Ceiling Fans - Use ceiling fans to reduce your need for AC. They use very little energy, but can make the temperature seem 10 degrees cooler. Running your fan at top speed will cool you the most efficiently. Fans don't actually cool the air, but they make you feel cooler because they blow the warm air, created by your own body heat, away from you. |
When the temperatures cool down at night, ceiling fans can help by pulling cooler air into your home from open windows. Most ceiling fans are very inexpensive, priced at $25 from a home improvement store.
Shade South Windows - Many people make the mistake of putting blinds on the inside of their south-facing windows to keep the sun out. The problem with this is that light and heat have already entered your house by the time they reach the blinds. In order to work properly, blinds or shutters should be installed on the outside of your window so that sunlight never has a chance to reach the glass.
Plant a Tree - By far the longest-term of the tips, planting a tree may not give you results for 5-10 years. However, trees not only offer you shade, and keep the sun from beating down onto your house, they also cool the entire neighborhood by keeping sunlight off of concrete. Plus, as if that wasn't enough, even baby trees that offer no shade can help keep the area cooler because they absorb CO2 (a greenhouse gas) and produce oxygen.
Young trees will require regular watering through the first year or so. After that, they should be well enough established to dig their roots in and find their own water. When it comes to watering, always water deeply. Shallow watering encourages shallow root systems, and you'll pay for those during drought season.
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