Question Earthority!

I’ve actually had trouble finding a really comprehensive guide to preparing your home for summer in a way that keeps the utility bills down — AND keeps you comfortable. So, I guess I’m going into the tips business myself.

I love summer — I’m just a warm-weather guy. But there are limits, and of course one man’s “just right” is another man’s (or his mate’s or children’s) baking point. In any case, it’s possible to keep reasonably cool in the summer WITHOUT spending a lot of money. Here are some things that I’ve found help:

- Switch to those new-fangled Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs — really! The old-fashioned bulbs produce more heat than light — enough that I can tell the difference in a room. Yes, the CFLs cost more up front … but since converting, I’ve never had to replace a bulb, and they use less electricity, more than making up for their cost in savings. There’s been a bit of alarmism about the mercury content in CFLs, but I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Just be careful not to break them, and don’t eat the damn things, okay?

- Don’t produce extra heat on top of what nature is providing. Grill out, microwave or have cold cuts instead of running the oven for four hours.

- If you say a fan doesn’t keep you cool, you’re not using it right. Look at your house’s layout, and figure out a good path for air to travel through it. Then position your fan or fans such that you get that continuous current of cooler air (the flow itself has a perceived cooling effect, too, regardless of the air temperature). In my case that means bringing in air through a window at the rear of my home (the area outside that window is shaded and cooler) and pushing it out the front (that area is sunny and hotter).

- Yeah, there will be SOME days when you really feel the need for air conditioning. Do yourself a favor and make sure that you’re not paying to cool rooms that aren’t in use! If you have central air, close some vents. If you use window units, it’s even easier. Only turn on the ones cooling the areas you actually use.

- Humidity is a big factor in comfort or discomfort when it’s hot — so, keep the indoor environment reasonably dry. You don’t have to run a dehumidifier, but if you can vent the wet air from your hot shower or that dishwashing marathon directly outside, do so.

I didn’t come up with any of these common-sense steps just to “save the earth.” I got tired of multi-hundred-dollar electric bills for running the AC … and I’ve pretty much cut those bills in half the last few years, without succumbing to heat stroke. I’m also looking into some of the heat-reflective window films and such, as I hear they provide even more savings.

Have a great summer!