What to do in the hot summer months

During the hot summer months, it can be hard to keep your home cool without using large amounts of electricity. Air conditioning systems, especially window mounted A/C systems, can be very energy intensive and emit a lot of CO2. According to the US Department of Energy, heating and cooling systems like A/C emit over a half billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, adding to global warming. Here are some tips on how to cool your home without an air conditioning system, or how to decrease demand on your system.

• Close your windows during the day, and open them at night. This prevents hot air from flowing into your house during the day while also allowing cool air to flow through your house at night. Try to keep doors open at night, to increase the air flow through rooms.
• Close curtains and blinds during the brightest parts of the day. Rays from the sun can significantly increase the temperature inside your home. When you leave for the day, close your blinds, and open the up when you return home.
• Use other objects to create shade in your home. House plants make great decorations and block the sun from heating your home. Trees, vines, and shrubs are not only great for the environment, but they can also be placed strategically to create more shade on your property.
• Use ceiling fans whenever possible in place of window mounted A/C systems. Ceiling fans are the most efficient type of fan, according to the Department of Energy. If you do not have a ceiling fan, however, using a box fan is still much more energy efficient than an air conditioning system.

Written by Alyssa Lemire, Class of 2017

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