Air conditioning may keep us cool in summer, but it’s hard to feel comfortable about how much money it costs. Somehow, people got along without it for millennia. How? By camping in a cave, planting shade trees, finding a cool breeze – and of course, having no alternative. Nobody’s suggesting we eliminate A/C or go live in a cave. But we can still find easy ways to use less of it and be just as cool.
At Big Ass Fans, breezes are our business, thermal comfort is our mission, and we love to save people money on their energy bills. So we’ve compiled 8 energy-savings tips for living comfortably and using less A/C.
Better yet, open two windows opposite each other, and experience the wonders of cross-ventilation.
In the heat of the day, close the curtains and lower the blinds. That way you’ll keep the sun from heating your house. Consider window-tinting too.
Who wants to slave over a hot stove in summer? Plus all that heat escaping the oven just boosts demand for a/c.
When the sun goes down, so does the temperature. Raise your thermostat at night and let the cool night breeze in. Close your windows in the morning to keep the cool air in. Energy-efficient buildings use this technique, often called a “night flush.”
They lower the temperature outside by way of transpiration cooling, and the shade they create lowers the temperature inside. They also make oxygen and look great, too.
Those old lightbulbs may look nice, but they make heat and gobble up electricity. Consider replacing them with energy-efficient, cool-burning LEDs.
Use smart-home products like the Nest Learning Thermostat and our Haiku with SenseME. SenseME’s sensors respond automatically to changing room conditions, including whether you’re in there or not. See your energy costs go down.
Better yet, get several. The breeze from an ENERGY STAR certified ceiling fan such as Haiku can make you feel up to 10°F cooler. That means you can turn the thermostat up several degrees and still be comfy.
Don’t let the summer heat inflate your energy bills. Talk to a Big Ass Fans expert about how we can save you as much as 30%.
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