Helpful tips in staying cool during these hot summer days! - Change out those hot incandescent lights for cooler and more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Not only are they less expensive to operate, they generate less heat in your home. - Close your drapes during the day to keep out the hot sun and keep in the overnight cool temperature. - Use natural lighting, and avoid turning on any lights when possible. - Close the A/C vents to the rooms that you don’t use. Why spend money cooling off an empty room? - Park your hot car outdoors until the engine cools off. Then move it into your garage. Heat the outdoors, not your house. - Cook and eat outdoors. You will avoid heating your kitchen and you’ll be using natural light, and food just tastes better outdoors too. Consider using a microwave oven to cook indoors. - Eat and drink cold foods, such as salads, fruits, sandwiches, hardboiled eggs, bread and cheeses, ice water, etc. You’ll be cooling down your body and you will save heat and energy by avoiding the cooking process. - Install a whole house fan, which cools the house using the colder air from outside and blowing your warmer house air into the attic. Not only is it cheaper to operate a whole house fan, but also you will cool the house and cool down the attic at the same time. Whole house fans can cool specific rooms in the house faster than an air conditioner, and you can run them all night for very little money. - Get wet during the day. Swim, water the yard; evaporative cooling is nature’s way of keeping you cool, for free! - Install modern insulation into your attic. - Open your windows and sliding glass doors in the evening to allow cooling air to enter and hot air to escape. - Prevent winter heat loss and summer heat gain with insulating dual-pane windows or infrared absorbing window film. Draperies
also provide effective insulation, especially those that are thermal-lined. - Up to 18% of your heat loss can occur through building openings. Cut this loss by weather-stripping all doors and windows and caulking openings around electric, plumbing and lighting fixtures. Also, check all ductwork for air leaks. Repair as needed, using approved materials and methods. - Use an attic fan to exhaust heat trapped in the attic. You can also install roof vents in the attic to let the heat out. - Keep air conditioning equipment clean. Replace or clean filters and clean condensing coils frequently. Specifically, clean the inside evaporator coils once a year. - Ice cream, popsicles and other frozen treats are refreshing on a warm day. Also, drink plenty of water, juice and sports drinks while avoiding caffeine. Eat cool or cold foods such as sandwiches and salads. Fresh vegetables and fruits generally contain water too and can help hydrate while offering a healthy snack. The key is to stay hydrated. - Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothes. Lighter colors and cotton materials are best for warm weather. Wear U/V skin protection while also donning a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella to protect from overexposure to the sun. - Install ceiling fans to circulate the air in your rooms. - Keep doors to the outside, garage or attic firmly closed to keep cool air in and hot air out. - To reduce heat generation during the warmest part of the day, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or evening hours when it’s generally cooler outside.