As the weather warms up, tactics for keeping your home comfortable change drastically. With the new goal of keeping your home cooler, you can employ several spring energy-saving tips, many of which require little or no investment. Here’s how to enjoy a greener home without sacrificing comfort.
Use Windows to Your Advantage
During the day, keep the sun out with window coverings to shade and insulate the glass. At night, turn off the air conditioner and open the windows to let a cool breeze through. Trap this cool air inside by closing the windows and drawing the shades come morning.
Seal Air Leaks
The sun isn’t the only thing heating up your home. Keep hot air from leaking inside by sealing gaps and cracks in your home’s outer envelope. Windows and doors tend to leak, but you can tighten them up with weatherstripping and caulk.
Reduce Interior Heat Gain
Avoid using the oven on hot days. Wash dishes and laundry in the cooler morning or evening hours. Take short showers and run the bathroom exhaust fan to draw heat and humidity outside.
Run the Ceiling Fan
The wind chill effect created by air movement makes you feel about four degrees cooler. This means you can turn up the thermostat to 78 degrees but enjoy what feels like 74 degrees just by running a ceiling fan.
Remember to turn off the fan when you leave the room to save energy. Air movement cools people, but it doesn’t reduce the room’s temperature, meaning operating it in an empty room is pointless.
Maintain the Cooling Equipment
Trim foliage back at least 18 inches to prevent restricting airflow. Change the air filter regularly to keep air traveling through the ducts at the proper velocity.
For optimal performance, schedule annual preventive maintenance for the air conditioner every spring. You’ll save money on cooling bills in the coming months thanks to the performance-improving cleaning and inspection.
If you need help implementing these spring energy-saving tips, please contact Roth Heating & Cooling. We’ve proudly serving Portland area residents since 1976.
