Cost Effective Ways to Keep Your Home Cool

Before you open you electric bill this month, you might want to brace yourself.  With the summer heat already scorching New Jersey, your air conditioner may have already been on full blast as early as June 1^st causing your electric bill to spike to unusual levels.  Once you have recovered from the shock of last month’s charges, go ahead and read these tips on how to keep your house cool in the summer without overworking your air conditioner.

• Use fans wisely.  Just placing a fan in the room is not going to properly move air around the house.  Make sure ceiling fans are moving counterclockwise to push hot air up away from the living space.  Placing an exhaust fan in your attic will let hot air escape and pull cooler air through the house.
• Open doors and windows strategically.  Keep windows and blinds closed on sunny sides of the house.  Open doors and windows on the shady sides.
• If the air conditioning is on, keep all doors and windows closed.
• Plant some shady trees or shrubs that could cast some shadows onto the house.  This will help keep it cool.
• Set the air conditioner a few degrees cooler at night when it is easier for it to cool the house.  It will not be in competition with the sun and will get to your desired temperature much quicker.  Raise it back up in the morning and you will find your home will maintain the coolness a bit longer.
• Do not turn on the oven or stove.  The added heat will just increase the temperature of your home.  Use the heat as a great excuse to try out that new restaurant in town tonight or grill something on your outside barbeque.

What are some of your favorite ways to keep the house cool?

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