August 2009 Archives

Okay, so maybe global warming hasn't impacted you much yet.  But what about "local warming"?  

Here are a few things you can do to keep cool, while saving a little money, in the dog days of summer.  (You may already be doing many of these, but a little reminder doesn't hurt.)

•    Turn off the lights when you leave rooms.  (Your mother was right!)
•    Shut down computers when you leave the house or go to bed.  They put off a lot of heat.
•    Install nightlights in hallways so you don't have to turn on larger lights when you get up at night.
•    Replace incandescent bulbs with those coiled, curly energy-efficient bulbs.
•    Unplug equipment, such as TVs and stereos, when not in use.
•    Run washer, dryer, and dishwasher on energy-conserve settings.
•    Use window shades or blinds to block out the sun, so solar energy isn't constantly beating down through your windows and warming up the house.
•    Remedy drafts by caulking gaps in windows and floorboards
•    And of course, when the AC is on, keep windows and doors close.

You've heard the saying, "Think globally, act locally."  Small "efficiency adjustments" like these won't change the world of course.  But they will help to make things a little cooler and more affordable in your world.

If you have central air conditioning, you've probably experienced your own version of the "energy crisis."  It goes something like this:

If you keep the temperature nice and cool in your home, you fear that your energy bill could rival your mortgage payment!

But if you try to save money by turning the thermostat up, you end up feeling like a chocolate bar left in a hot car on a summer's day.

So how can you keep from overheating--and overspending--all at the same time?

Here's one thought.  Turn up your AC thermostat one degree at a time.

Here's why.  The human body has an amazing ability to adapt, if you give it a chance.  If you've been keeping the thermostat at 70, try it at 71 for a few days and give yourself time to acclimate.  Then, try moving it to 72.

If you suddenly raise the setting to 78, you will, of course, be very uncomfortable.  But by making small changes, you'll give yourself a chance to adapt, save money, and stay cool.

Hey, it's not the most dramatic thing you can do to combat the "energy crisis", but it's a start.  And it's better than nothing.

There are some other simple things you can do to keep cool and save money in these dog days of summer, and I'll mention them in the next post.

These hot summer days give new (non-political) meaning to the term Red States vs. Blue States.  Here are my definitions.

Red State:  A state in which you find yourself turning red from the heat, even in your own home, because you don't have central AC.  This state is commonly accompanied by an uncontrollable desire to jump into any body of water available.

Blue State: A state in which you keep very cool indoors by cranking up the AC, but you worry that the size of your energy bill will exceed your car payment.  So even though you're comfortable, you feel blue.

And this Red State vs. Blue State divide leads to the big debate: fans vs. central AC.  With your permission, I would like to weigh in on this debate.  

Many energy efficient experts are fan fanatics: they favor ceiling fans and standing fans over AC because of the "cool to cost" ratio.  And there is certainly some truth to this.  If you can't afford central AC right now, installing ceiling fans can make you more comfortable for a lot less.

However, there are some things to consider.  Some ceiling funs use a LOT of electricity.  And conversely, some AC systems are extremely energy efficient.  So don't assume one is better than the other: do your homework, ask a lot of questions, check out the numbers.

You may decide that staying cool and comfortable is one of those "family values" that is worth more than money.