COMBATTING SUMMER COOLING COSTS

Written by Sean Welsh, Energy Senior Resource Educator

To mitigate cooling costs and to stay cool in the spring and summer a number of strategies can be utilized when the weather is hot! If you have not yet, consider an energy audit to find out what kind of air sealing and insulation upgrades could be applied to help with cooling and heating costs year round! You may even qualify for a program that can help with those costs. If you are interested in an energy audit, email Sean at sw288@cornell.edu or call 845 292 6180 ext. 127. Here are some tips to stay cool:

• Service air conditioners, complete routine maintenance of air filters, and take a look a look at your air conditioner’s manufacturer’s information on checking the unit’s evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually.

• Seal cracks and openings to prevent the summer’s warmer air from coming into your indoor spaces. Caulk and weatherstripping can be used to seal leaks around doors and windows.

• Open windows and use a window fan instead of an air conditioner, and remember that fans cool people not rooms.

• Taking your cooking outside to the grill on warmer days can save on cooling costs and keep the indoor spaces we cook in from heating up from the use of stoves and ovens.

• Look for energy efficient window treatments to keep the heat of the sun from coming into the home. Use the window treatments during the warmest parts of the day, keeping the hot rays of the sun from overheating indoor spaces.

• Keep your air conditioning set to a higher setting. The smaller the difference from the indoor to the outdoor temperatures, the lower the cost of electric for use of the air conditioning unit. Whole home air conditioning can utilize a programmable thermostat to select a higher temperature when no one is home to help reduce costs. Shutting off AC units when no one is in the building and at night will save even more.

• When you shower or use the bath, use the bathroom fans to remove extra heat and humidity from your home.

• For homes with duct work, now is a great time to seal and insulate ducts, which will help with costs during cooling and heating season.

• Swap out your most used light bulbs for energy efficient, Energy Star LED bulbs.

• Wash only full loads of dishes in the dishwasher. Use cold water and coldwater detergents to wash clothes, and consider hanging clothes out to dry. Contact Sean to discuss available programs for NYS residents and different approaches to clean energy projects.

Sources:

“10 Energy Saving Tips for Spring.” Energy.gov. Accessed April 16, 2021. https://www.energy.gov/articles/10energy-saving-tips-spring#:~:text=10 Energy Saving Tips for Spring.

“Low Cost and No Cost Energy Saving Tips” Accessed June 5, 2023. Reviewed by Kenneth Hellevang, PHD, PE Extension Engineer and professor, Carl Pedersen, former Energy Educator, https://www. ag.ndsu.edu/publications/energy/nocost-low-cost-home-energy-saving-tips.