With summer officially well under way in Lexington, we've put together a list of ways to keep your cool.
The little things
This set of ideas costs nothing to implement. Most are just a
matter of thoughtful energy habits. Since none of these involve capital
improvements, they're renter-friendly.
• Set your thermostat to 78. Go higher, if the
humidity is low enough and you feel comfortable. Turning a thermostat down to
cool a room quicker doesn't work, by the way — it makes the A/C run longer, not
colder.
• Wear short-sleeved, loose clothing. You dress
lightly to go out on a summer day. Do the same indoors. Absorbent, wickable
cotton is the hot weather classic.
• Drink lots of water. This is good practice, anyway.
Cold drinks lower your body's core temperature and cool you down quickly.
• Draw your drapes. Keeping your blinds, shades and
curtains closed — particularly on the west side of the house — a practice that
helps keeps heat from getting inside in the first place.
• Turn off unnecessary heat-producing devices.
Incandescent light bulbs are a big heat generator. Shut down electronic gear
when you're not using it.
• Use the microwave. Conventional cooking dumps heat
in the house, but microwaves cook the food directly.
• Wash and dry clothes when the day is cool. Do
laundry early in the day and late at night. Don't forget clotheslines: they
generate no heat in the house.
• Skip your dishwasher's dry cycle. Rack your dishes
and let them air dry instead.
• Open the bathroom window when showering. Vent heat
and humidity outside, rather than back into the house. Obviously, you don't
want to put on a show for the neighbors. If you have privacy concerns, open up
the window after dressing. Keep the bathroom door closed.
• Run your air conditioner fan on low. This is
particularly helpful in areas with high summer humidity. The low air volume
helps your A/C dehumidify.
• Keep heat-producers away from your thermostat. Don't
allow a closely located TV or water heater to convince your thermostat that
it's hotter than it really is.
• Check your refrigerator settings. The fridge takes
heat out of your food and transfers it to your kitchen, so be sure you're
running it efficiently. The refrigerator works best when set between 37 and 40
degrees Fahrenheit. Put the freezer around 5 degrees.
• Turn off your furnace pilot light. You can always
re-light it next autumn.
• Close the fireplace damper. Don't send cool air up
the chimney. If your fireplace has a glass door, shut it.
Small projects
These are all relatively inexpensive things you can do to keep
your cooling costs and summertime energy use down. Most will pay off in savings
from season to season.
• Install ceiling fans. If you're a mammal, you're
surrounded by a small envelope of body heat. Fans move this heat away from you
and provide evaporative cooling as you sweat. If you choose fans with lights,
look for the kind with dedicated (pin-type) CFLs. It's also smart to have a few
portable fans you can move around the house.
• Replace your air-conditioning filters. Clean filters
in window units. You should do this every month, so keep a stock of filters on
hand.
• Buy a dehumidifier. EnergyStar says a 40-pint unit
will save up to $20 a year and last up to a decade. Moderating your home's
humidity — in addition to making you feel cooler — will reduce musty smells and
the growth of harmful molds.
• Shade your air conditioner. If your A/C is in full
sun, it's working harder than it needs to. Don't obstruct the air flow.
• Have your air conditioner serviced. Coolant levels
should be checked every year. A professional also will clean and lubricate the
system. Without annual service, your air conditioner will lose about 5 percent
efficiency each year — more if the coolant is low. Use Puron or some other non-CFC
coolant, rather than environmentally harmful Freon.
• Check your weather stripping. Caulk leaky window
frames, while you're at it. This also will suppress drafts in the winter. If
you have a window-mounted air conditioner, be sure the accordion seal is tight.
Add rubber gaskets to wall and light switches to make sure the wall is sealed.
• Insulate interior hot water pipes. There's no point
in heating your room air along with the water. If it's indoors, wrap your
electric hot water heater with an approved insulator. Gas heaters should be
insulated by professionals.
The big stuff
Here are some big-ticket items appropriate for homeowners
committed to long-term energy savings. The more you do, the more you save!
• Upgrade your attic insulation. Most experts
recommend 10-17 inches of R38. You have a lot of options in this area, so it
pays to consult with a professional.
• Improve attic ventilation. It can get up to 140
degrees in your attic during the summer. Adding an electric fan or wind
turbines will move some of this unwanted heat away from your living space.
• Plant deciduous trees on the west side of your home.
You're looking for fast-growing shade trees to keep the hottest part of your
house cool during the summer months. They'll lose their leaves each autumn,
letting sunshine through once it turns cool. Opt for lightweight trees in areas
prone to hurricanes and winter ice storms.
• Replace gas appliances with efficient electric units.
Pilot lights contribute to indoor heating, and electric prices are generally
more stable than natural gas.
• Replace older windows with new, energy-efficient units.
The U.S. Department of Energy says this is the best bet for improving
year-round home energy efficiency. Modern units feature advanced coatings to
keep cooling and heat where you want it. If you're on a tight budget, consider
interior or exterior storm windows to beef-up your current installation.
• Upgrade older air conditioners. Another expensive
item, but cooling can account for half of your summer energy bill. You're
looking for a unit with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration (SEER) of 13 or
more. The best deals are obviously found off-season, but this is one investment
that will immediately return savings.
Hope these tips help keep you and your Lexington home cool this summer.
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