Keeping The Heat Out

Air-conditioners are not environmentally friendly, they consume allot of energy and they contain freon, an ozone depleting gas. Any refrigerating unit needs to be recycled properly to ensure that the freon gas does not escape. If you insist that a fan is not enough for your home, there are ways to help maintain a comfortable indoor climate.

If your house has forced air run the fan continuously so that the air can circulate, drawing the cool air from the basement to the upper floors that are warmer.
Keep the windows closed; you may be able to draw a breeze into the house, but the warm air will contribute to the overall heat of the house.
Keep the blinds closed; if your house doesn't have energy efficient windows you are going to bring in the heat. Close all blinds to keep the heat out as much as possible. If you have vertical blinds, they shade better when the curved side faces the outside. Another trick is to cover the windows with aluminium foil.
If you have ceiling fans have them rotate so that the fan is pushing the air up rather than down; because heat settles on the ceilings the fan will draw that warm air from the ceiling and force it down, not good. It is better to use the fan In reverse so that the fan will draw the cooler air from the ground to cool the warm air on the ceiling, contributing to the overall cooling of the room.
Try limiting your air-conditioners use; don't run the machine all day and all night. Limit its use for the afternoons when the heat is at its strongest, and shut it off (or turn it down) at night and mornings.
Place the air-conditioner in the warmest room of the house; by doing this you will avoid having the warm air from that room circulate throughout the house.
Change you light bulbs to fluorescents; they require less energy and they generate little to no heat.
Avoid using the oven or stove; on those really warm days using an indoor stove or oven will heat up the kitchen.
Eat more fruits and vegetables; we should all have a balanced diet but when talking heat, meat products will raise your body temperature by burning all that protein. Also, drink lots of water, like adding coolant to your vehicles radiator your body needs the fluids to help manage your body temperature.

Image: Nassau Library System

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[ READER COMMENTS ]

1

Gerri G said:

Thanks for the tips. What would you say about using a box windon fan?

Posted at 07:42 AM, on June 10 2007

Keeping The Heat Out

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