Whenever you save energy, the environment benefits and your summer energy bills are reduced. Here are a few ideas to keep you cooler as well as shave a few dollars off those monthly energy bills:
1. Plant some deciduous shrubs and trees on the West side of your home.
2. Lower your water heater temperature to 140 degrees (120 degrees in homes with children or elderly residents).
3. Dry your clothes outside on a laundry line.
4. Use your dishwasher, clothes dryer and other heat producing appliances in the morning or after 8:00 p.m. Only run when fully loaded.
5. Consider a retractable awning on your home. Awnings can block direct sunlight and reduce heat gain in a home up to 77%, reducing the inside temperature up to 20 degrees. They can also help cut glare and eliminate faded upholstery, drapes and carpet.
About The Author: By Doris Dobkins, Money Saving Expert
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I help keep the house cool by hosing down the outside with water, especially in the evening at dusk. I also remove the lid to the attic (hot air rises). Everyone also wears cold clothes around the back of their necks. Everyone stays hydrated. Unsweetened lemonade is a real thirst quencher. As a child in one of the Moroccan concentration camps for Jews(WWII), I was given buttons to suck on during the hottest hours. It helped me to survive the heat. We've also introduced our dog to the coolness of the bathtub.
I have had great success by using old fleece garments - sweats, track pants etc, cutting them into strips/squares, sewing up patchwork for curtain backings.
This has saved us heaps in heating AND cooling.
I live in Adelaide, South Australia. Summer temps reach 45 degrees C. (110 degrees F) Winter temps drop to minus 1 degrees C ( 25 degress or so F).
Admittedly Adelaide is quite dry. I don't know how high humidity would affect the fleece linings. In a dry climate - no problems!
Last year I made new drapes,for the entire house.I saved in several ways.But the "total" energy saver was I "lined" all the drapes/curtains.The winter heat bill was actually lower and the first bill of the summer (we are in Florida) with air conditioning on for a full month now,the bill was "wwaayy lower" than any previous summers.When the drapes/curtains were mostly light cool looking sheers and weaved patterns.I actually found most of my fabric on clearance tables,and the same for the lining.Some I lined with a specific color from the curtain,some I lined with a darker or lighter constrasting color.The living room curtains are "magenta" which I made the drapes then stenciled with black fabric paint five different oriental symbols.It was very time consuming but well worth the time to have one of a kind drapes.
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