Money Saving Tip: Keep Cool & Cut AC Costs

For the first time in my life I am living in an apartment without air conditioning and it’s not the easiest adjustment in the world, but it’s only temporary and definitely not the end of the world.

To beat the heat, I’ve done a lot of reading about alternative ways to keep cool and cool your home. The tips aren’t only great for those of us without the privilege of a/c, but also great ideas to help reduce the amount of air conditioning you use, saving you money! Also, it’s better for the environment to reduce your use.

So if you’re game, try a few of these tips:

-If you don’t already have them, invest in some fans. Ceiling fans are great and can reduce the temperature in a room by a couple degrees. Oscillating fans help with air circulation. If you have central air, sometimes just running it on fan mode is enough to keep things cool.

-At night, when the air outside is cooler, open some windows. Use two fans–box fans work particularly well–one blowing the hot air our and one sucking the cool air in. This will significantly lower the temperature in the room.

-During the day, close all windows to shut the hot day air out. Close all blinds and curtains you can to block out direct sunlight, which can heat up the room.

-If you’re willing to invest a little money, buy some UV blocking window film. Easy to apply, it blocks solar heat in the summer and also helps retain heat in the winter.

-Wait to run electronics at night. Everything electronic, from light bulbs to dishwashers, create heat when they’re on. It’s best to run them in the evening when it’s cooler out

-Another source of heat is cooking, so avoid using the stove or the oven as much as you can. Toasting something in a toaster oven creates a lot less heat than setting your oven to 375. Use a microwave or eat cold foods like salads. Another great idea is to use a grill and cook outside. Of course you can always go out to eat, but that’s not necessarily the cheapest option.

If you do have central air with a programmable thermostat, make sure you program it for a higher temperature while you’re away from home. Even just raising the temperature a few degrees can save money.

For more tips check out these sites:
How to keep your apartment or house cool during summer without air conditioning.
15 Tips for Keeping Cool Without Air Conditioning
Keep Cool Without an Air Conditioner

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