7 Cheap or Free Ways to Cool Your Home

Written by Jeffrey on June 4, 2007 | Comments (0)

Having trouble finding ways to stay cool as the temperature rises this summer?

We've already talked about how you can cool your home, save energy, and save money by installing a programmable thermostat, but what else can you do to save some green and stay cool in the summer heat?

Here's some of my favorite tricks...

There are a vast array of cheap, and even free, ways to keep your home cool without running your air conditioner at full blast all summer.

Let's take a look at some of them. How much do you think you could save in energy costs just by using a little creative thinking?

#1. Change your filter: It is VITALLY important for us to change our air filters in order to keep our air conditioning as efficient as possible and our homes as healthy as possible. In fact, in the summer you should change your air filter once every month...or you'll be throwing money out the window.

#2. Set your thermostat to save: Invest a few bucks into a programmable thermostat and follow these guidelines to save up to 33% on your energy bill. If you have an irregular schedule like I do (work from home, swing shift, stay at home mom, etc), a few well placed fans will keep your home comfortable.

#3. Don't cool the whole neighborhood: Use caulk and/or weatherstripping to ensure your nice cool air actually stays in your home. Be sure to check out some eco-friendly caulking at MetaEfficient.com

#4. Be honest with your thermostat: Keep lamps, tv's, and other electronics away from your thermostat. The heat they produce will make it think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.

#5. Plan your chores: Delve into chores that produce massive amounts of heat, such as cooking, washing/drying clothes, and washing dishes, in the evening, when it's cooler. This way, you won't have to run your A/C or other methods of cooling near as hard to compensate for the heat produced from household chores.

#6. Use fans instead of the air conditioning: Open windows, use portable fans, or cheap window air conditioners to keep air moving through your home. Even a movement of 1 mph can make a big difference!

Consider using the "fan only" setting on your thermostat to help in the circulation of air.
DIY: Spend $30 and construct a portable fan that blows ice cold air into the room you want it...or even use it by the pool. View the plans at LifeHacker.com

#7. Install a whole house fan: MSN Money reports:

"Consider installing a whole house fan or evaporative cooler (a "swamp cooler") if appropriate for your climate. Attics trap fierce amounts of heat; a well-placed and -sized whole-house fan pulls air through open windows on the bottom floors and exhausts it through the roof, lowering the inside temperature and reducing energy use by as much as third compared with an air conditioner. Cost is between $150 and $400. An evaporative cooler pulls air over pads soaked in cold water and uses a quarter the energy of refrigerated air, but they're useful only in low-humidity areas. Cost is $200 to $600."

These are just a few of the many ways to drastically reduce your air conditioning bill this summer. Read more ideas at: MSN Money and HomeTips.com.

What are some of your favorite ideas to keep your home cool without breaking the bank in energy bills?

*Post image courtesy of PMS and Vodka on flickr.*

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