Keep the sun outside where it belongs! This means closing blinds, curtains, or other window coverings during the day, ESPECIALLY during those hours where the sun is shining directly on that side of the home. If you do not have some sort of window dressing, consider hanging a large towel or a blanket over the window during peak times of sunshine on those windows to keep out the heat.
· Now that sun is outside where it belongs, keep it off your house! Anything that shades the exterior of the home like awnings, bushes, or trees will help keep the siding cooler and hence keep the whole home cooler as well.
· If you have ceiling fans, use them! If you do not, consider using portable fans to move the air inside your home. Keep in mind that ceiling fans are reversible (usually a switch on the side of the motor casing) so they can rotate counterclockwise in the summer to push air down on the inhabitants making you feel cooler. In the winter switch it to rotate clockwise to pull cooler air up and cycle the warmer air down to make the room more even in temperature. Also, adjust the fan speed to make this work better for you. In the summer run the fan on a higher setting to get the cooling effect of the blowing air. In the winter, run the fan on low to balance the air temperature without it making you feel cooler in the process. In any case, using fans or other types of air movers will make you feel cooler than the same temperature room without any air movement, so it is a way to get more and spend less. Running the A/C will cost more than running a few fans.
· If you are using other fans, place something chilled in front of the fan. As the ice or other chilled item thaws, the fan will blow that cooled air around the room. Once the ice is melted, you can use it to mist your face and pressure points to cool yourself even further.
· Be sure all door and window seals are tight and do not have cracks. Small leaks or gaps in openings such as doorways to the outside of the home can allow a lot of heat to enter and will cost a lot of money to try to cool with your A/C unit. Seals are usually simple and cheap to replace if needed. Many people simply replace the door seals every spring to ensure they are getting the best amount of protection from heat and humidity every summer.
· Look at your lighting choices. Some light bulbs put off a lot of heat when they are burning! Incandescent bulbs should be replaced or at least left off during the heat of the day during summer months because they add more heat to a room than most people realize. Truthfully, replacing these with more energy efficient bulbs will not only be cooler, but will save you money by using less electricity.
· Choose cotton in the summertime. Many people think silk and satin sheets feel nice, but nothing is more breathable and cooler than cotton. Silks and satins feel cool at the start but will trap your body heat under the sheets with you making you hotter. Cotton sheets breathe more so body heat can escape making you cooler throughout the night.
· Cook outside whenever possible to keep the stove, oven, microwave, or other cooking devices from putting additional heat inside the home. Grilling, smoking, or using slow cookers outside will allow the A/C to run less.
· Plan outdoor activities for mornings or evenings. Most days are much warmer in the afternoon so being out then will make you hotter and you will need more effort to cool off afterwards.
