3 Green Cooling Tips for Summer

June 2016

It seems that we’re going to have higher than normal temperatures this summer – so you’ll want to stay cool without facing huge bills for air conditioning.

Here are some easy tips on how to stay cool — and be green and eco friendly too!

(And below, you’ll find more tips and a cool video on the best air conditioners).

3 Tips to Stay Cool and Green This Summer

• Keep the air moving: Use a ceiling or desk fan. If you’re using air conditioning, why would you want to run a fan as well? Because when a fan is used with a/c, you can actually raise your thermostat two degrees, and still feel just as cool, while saving money (and the planet). Also consider ENERGY STAR certified bathroom vent fans, which get rid of hot and humid air after your shower.
• Use Shade: If you live in the Northern hemisphere, you want to stop the sun beating in to your home on the South and West sides of your home. Plant trees and shrubs for shade, and use shades, blinds, curtains and awnings. This simple move will keep the hot rays of the sun out of your home, bringing down the temperature.  Here’s how to get it right. 
• Keep your cool air inside, and hot air outside: If you’ve got invisible air leaks in your home, it’s a lot harder to keep the cool air inside during the summer. Find the air leaks (door and window trim are good places to tackle first) and seal them with caulk or weather stripping.

New Features – Air Conditioners in Summer

When it’s sweltering outside, you’ll be glad of cool air conditioning!

So let’s see what the latest advances are in ENERGY STAR certified units.

Energy Star certified room air conditioners now:

• Have tight-fitting insulation to make them more energy efficient
• Use R-32 refrigerant which is less harmful to the  environment and the climate
• Save you about $70 a year!
• Let you control the units from your smart phone! You can schedule start-up and get feedback on their energy use. (That’s very cool!).

How To Make Sure You Get The Right Air Conditioner for Summer

Of course, you can rely on your heating and cooling specialist installer to advise you on what size air conditioner to buy for your home.

But wouldn’t it be good to be able to work it out for yourself too?

This video shows you exactly how to  do it  – I found it very useful!

So now you know!  Great ways to stay cool AND green this summer!