Heat generated from within the house can contribute significantly to the costs of cooling. Here are a few suggestions to help reduce or contain heat from within:
Turn off incandescent lights. Only 5% of the energy that goes into a typical incandescent bulb comes out as light. The remaining 95% comes out as heat! Switch to energy-efficient LED bulbs - they give off 90% less heat, as well as using 75% less energy. Initially more expensive, they are actually less expensive than incandescent bulbs in the long run because they use less energy and last so much longer.
Don't place lamps or TVs near your air conditioning thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer.
Cook with microwave, barbeque or pressure cooker. The microwave generates almost no heat, and is much more energy-efficient than the stove or oven. The pressure cooker generates less interior heat with relatively low energy consumption. The barbeque, of course, keeps the heat outside.
Reduce sources of humidity. Reducing humidity in your home results in less condensation on your air conditioner coils, saving electricity and lowering this hidden source of heat. To reduce humidity:
- vent clothes dryer to the outside.
- vent clothes dryer to the outside.
- use exhaust fans in kitchen and bathroom.
- cover pots when cooking.
- If you have a crawl space, cover any bare dirt with a plastic ground-moisture barrier .
Seal off laundry room; line-dry clothes. Washers and dryers generate large amounts of heat and humidity. When possible, use them in the morning or late evening when you can better tolerate the extra heat. Seal off the laundry room when in use, and duct or vent the air to the outside of the house. Use a clothes line to dry clothes. Dryers release a substantial amount of heat during operation; they also consume a lot of electricity. Toss your clothes in the dryer on fluff for a few minutes if line-dried clothes are too stiff.
Air dry dishes. This will reduce the heat generated by the drying cycle of your dishwasher. Wash only full loads to reduce machine use.
Insulate water heater. Water heaters radiate heat which can be easily contained by insulation. You can purchase a water heater 'blanket', or insulate the water heater yourself using faced fiberglass insulation and tuck tape. Be sure not to cover any vents. This simple technique will also greatly increase the efficiency of your water heater, resulting in lower energy bills.
Turn off hot water circulating pump in summer. If you have a hot water circulating pump for instant hot water at all faucets consider turning off for the summer. Most homes don't have insulated water lines and you pay both heating the water and removing the heat from your home with your air conditioning, the small inconvenience is worth it for energy conservation.
Seal ducts and close basement doors. Many homes with central heating have ducts which run through the attic and crawl space. If the seams in these ducts are leaky, especially in the attic, they can draw in hot summer air which flows into the house, creating more of a load for air conditioners. Minor duct repairs are easy to accomplish, and usually involve folding or crimping the tin edges with a pliers. Ducts in unconditioned spaces, however, should be sealed and insulated by qualified professionals using the appropriate sealing materials.
Air ducts which lead to your basement should also be shut off, as this part of your house usually cools itself naturally. Keep the door to the basement closed, as cool air will settle down to the basement where it isn't needed.
Ventilate with a window fan. If outside temperature is below 77°, a window fan can be used to replace hot indoor air. Locate fan on the downwind side with fan blades directing the air outwards. To enhance air flow, open a window in each room and be sure all interior doors are open.
Shut gas supply to fireplace and heaters. The pilot light generates a considerable amount of heat, and should be off during warm months. Re-lighting the pilot light in the fall is as easy as pushing a button on most units. Fireplace dampers should also be closed during the hot months of the year; this minimizes the loss of cooler air from inside the home.
"We are really impressed with their professionalism and the way they meticulously implemented the new system, such that there were no hiccups in the entire migration process."
