That’s according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which offers tips for homeowners who want to beat the heat and save money this summer.
• Program your thermostat to accommodate your family’s summer schedule. Set the thermostat a few degrees higher when no one is home, so your cooling system doesn’t chill an empty house.
• Use ceiling fans to create a breeze. Remember that ceiling fans cool people, not spaces, so always turn off the fan when you leave the room.
• Close curtains and shades before you leave your home, so the sun’s rays won’t overheat the interior.
• Move container trees and plants in front of sun-exposed windows to create more shade.
• Use energy-efficient lighting (e.g., fluorescent lights) instead of incandescent light bulbs. Energy-efficient lighting produces about 75 percent less heat than incandescent lighting does.
• Have your cooling system serviced annually to make sure it runs at optimum efficiency.
• Check your cooling system’s air filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it. If it doesn’t look dirty, go ahead and change it every three months anyway.
• Make sure your air ducts are sealed. As much as 20 percent of the air that moves through a home’s duct system is lost due to leaks and poor connections.
• Be sure to check duct connections at vents and registers, which are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork.
Cyberhomes.com - How to Keep Your House Cool This Summer for Less
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