"Giant List of Summer Cool"

Turning on a switch and letting the air conditioning kick on at 9 am in the morning is easy, but staying cool without air conditioning? Hard. Here is Lighter Footstep.com's "Giant List of Summer Cooling Tips".

Source: http://lighterfootstep.com/2007/05/a-giant-list-of-summer-cooling-tips/ last access 5/11/09. Their Giant List of Summer Cooling Tips is broken down into general tips, small things you can do to improve the temperature, and then even to larger things that can be done to improve your home comfort. I am not going to paste the entire version of their giant list - because their website is generally cool and loaded with interesting/fun/useful "green" tips that you should check out for yourself.

Instead, I'm going to give some tips that I find interesting/useful and not repetitive to share with you from their selections. Like really, keep your blinds closed - that's a repeat.

In their general tips section, Ligherfootstep.com recommends:

• Wash and dry clothes when the day is cool. Do laundry early in the day and late at night. Don’t forget clotheslines: they generate no heat in the house.
• Skip your dishwasher’s dry cycle. Rack your dishes and let them air dry, instead.
• Open the bathroom window when showering. Vent heat and humidity outside, rather than back into the house. Obviously, you don’t want to put on a show for the neighbors. If you have privacy concerns, open up after dressing. Keep the bathroom door closed.

In their "small projects" section, they recommend:

• Buy a dehumidifier. ENERGY STAR says a 40-pint unit will save up to $20 USD a year and last up to a decade. Moderating your home’s humidity — in addition to making you feel cooler — will reduce musty smells and the growth of harmful molds.
• Shade your air conditioner. If your a/c is in full sun, it’s working harder than it needs to. Don’t obstruct the air flow.
• Have your air conditioner serviced. Coolant levels should be checked every year. A professional will also clean and lubricate the system. Without annual service, your air conditioner will lose about 5% efficiency each year — more if the coolant is low. Use Puron or some other non-CFC coolant, rather than environmentally harmful freon.

The last section is titled "the Big Stuff" and outlines larger, more comprehensive home improvement projects that will help to keep your home comfortable.

• Upgrade older air conditioners. Another expensive item, but cooling can account for half of your summer energy bill. You’re looking for a unit with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration (SEER) of 13 or more. The best deals are obviously found off-season, but this is one investment which will immediately return savings.
• Plant deciduous trees on the west side of your home. You’re looking for fast-growing shade trees to keep the hottest part of your house cool during the summer months. They’ll lose their leaves each autumn, letting sunshine through once it turns cool. Opt for lightweight trees in areas prone to hurricanes and winter ice storms.
• Replace gas appliances with efficient electric units. Pilot light contribute to indoor heating, and electric prices are generally more stable than natural gas.

Hopefully these tips will help you keep your home comfortable during the heat of the summer. Of course, using your air conditioning unit isn't bad, just try and make sure that it's not working harder than it needs to.