What's a cheap way to have air conditioning?

Question

Electric bill is always so high, what can I do to cut down the cost and waste?

Answer 1

Buy an energy saving deep freeze and lay in it for a couple hrs. That'll keep you cool while looking cool.

Answer 2

Window units do help.  You can cool only the parts of the house you use the most.  You can get  a few fans to set in doorways that will help to circulate the air through out to other areas.  You really don't have to have a cold bathroom.  Get an exhaust fan for the kitchen, this will pull the hot air out.  It really works, it's what I do.

Answer 3

Keep your shades drawn. If it is darker in your house it will be cooler

Answer 4

open your doors and windows when it is nice out, or when a breeze is blowing around outside to go through your house,... also you could change to propane... or what ever that is... and I read out of a magazine that if you decrease/increase the degrees of your heater/air conditioner, than you let out so much less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere... it was cool how they said it, but I'm sure these things could help you.  Also, with the electric bill... you could keep lamps, phone chargers, etc. unplugged while your not at home/ using them because even though you aren't using them, they suck electricity anyway... just because they feel like it ;).

Answer 5

Try a whole house fan.  It's great for when it's cool outside but hot inside--brings that cool air right in.

Also, try a water fan.  It's a basic fan but adds water to the air.  I haven't used one since I was a little girl and don't know if there would be a mold problem, but I've seen them for sale recently.  I remember it made our living room quite cool.

In my experience, using the a/c doesn't cost a whole lot more than having fans everywhere, and it is a whole lot more comfortable..  Of course, we have a large family, so we used a lot of fans.  

Try turning the thermostat up and supplementing the a/c with a fan.  If your family is small, that would probably help.

Get a more efficient unit.

Change to geothermal (expensive, but over several years it will pay for itself).

Of course, increase your insulation and weatherstripping. Also, look into installing a radiant barrier in your attic.  Don't know if that would make the house colder in the winter, though.

Some friends of mine installed a trellis and honeysuckle vine outside their hottest room.  It quickly became their coolest room.  It was in their fenced backyard, so the loss of security by covering a window was not an issue.

Answer 6

First, thoroughly insulate and caulk your entire house.  Have your gas/electic company come out and do an energy audit--mine was $50 but they found many areas that we can fix to increase our savings. Also have them tune up and refill your central air if that's what you're using.  The older ones use a great deal more refrigerant and that will really run up your bill!  When you do run it--as long as you're not in a serious heat wave, run it at night to thoroughly cool the house.  Turn the temp setting up considerably during the day, so that it runs only once or twice.  Make use of ceiling fans to circulate the air.

Then close the curtains during the hottest part of the day--from 11-3pm.  Consider planting trees to block warming sun during the summer months.  If you can afford them, awnings for your windows will block the harsher sun rays and keep them from heating up the house.  They can be taken down in the fall.  We haven't done this, but the neighbor did last year.  They look nice.

Answer 7

I don't use air conditioning.  I cover the windows with dark curtains during the day and then uncover them in the evening.  Then I open them when the temperature is equal.  I leave them open all night for increased airflow.  I have safety locks on my windows so they can't be opened without being broken, and I'll hear that even in my sleep.  In the really really hot days (1-2 days/year) I sleep in my basement.

Answer 8

Just get regular old plug-in fans! That's what we use at my house, but maybe you live somewhere hotter.

Answer 9

Why not not have air conditioning?

Answer 10

If you have central a/c, change to a digital thermostat so you can get it on a timer.  This will allow you to decide what temp your home is at during several times during the day -- i.e.,  77 degrees at 8 a.m., 79 at noon, 80 at 3:00, 77 at 6 p.m.; this is especially helpful if no one is at home during the day since you will be able to keep your home warmer while you're not there and give it time to cool at little when you're on the way home.  Also, add screens to you home that filter the light.  These have helped quite a bit on the sunnier sides of our home.  

Finally, if there aren't any rules where you live against it, you could add a window unit to whatever room is used the most while you are at home and turn off your central unit.

Answer 11

if possible make sure there are trees surrounding your home...trees can benefit in summer as well as winter..

in the summer they provide shade so direct sunlight doesnt hit your house

in winter they provide a wind break helping to keep your home warmer

also if your house is well insulated that makes a big difference....check your attic-if there is blow in insulation you will probably need to add more...blow in settles in just a few short years and is not energy effective....use bat insulation which can be found at home improvement stores...some electric companies will also give you a percentage of your cost back if you add insulation because it can help reduce energy use...also check around your windows and make any necessary repairs such a caulking or replacing windows if you can afford to...insulate your floor joist in your crawl space/basement...helps year round....INSULATION WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE....you can even by small foam pieces to insulate your wall/light sockets...you can lose alot of cool/warm air this way also....i know all of this from experience..got our electric bill down from $250 the highest it ever was in the summer now to around $120....in winter we use propane but still have to have electric to run furnace and bill stays around $110 in winter....check out the site below for all the ways you can improve your heating/cooling cost.....also run a box fan sitting in the floor in most of your rooms to help circulate the cool air to help feel cooler....this will allow you to turn the thermostat up a few degrees in the summer time and use ceiling fans if you have them...fans can do wonders year round also

Answer 12

On nice days (mid 70s), leave doors and windows cracked open just a little bit.

On hot days, make sure you close all doors and windows completely.

On cold days, problem solve, just shut the A/C down.

Also, vinyl siding helps, but that isn't an immediate cost effective solution.

Answer 13

Go to the hardward store and get a programmable thermostat (about $20-40).  You can set it so that the A/C only goes on during the days and times that you're home (instead of all the time, or instead of you having to turn it on and off when you leave/come home).  

It's pretty cheap, considering the savings, and is easy to install.  Make sure your family or other housemates agree to the programmed settings, and don't go changing them randomly.

Also, install ceiling fans - they can really cool down a room without the need for expensive A/C.  Keep your windows shut and blinds drawn during the day to block out the sun and heat.

Answer 14

1)  Proper insulation of your doors and windows, so that you're only cooling your own space.

2)  Use dark curtains to keep out the sun during the daylight hours.

3)  Limit the area that you use the air conditioning in -- just the bedroom, or just the bedroom and living room... make it spaces with doors to close, so that the cool stays in one location.

4)  Limit the amount you run it.  Only while you are home, for example, or only until you go to bed.

5)  Turn it down a notch.  Set it for 3 degrees warmer than you think you'd like it, and just wear less clothing.  Try 78 degrees, for example, instead of 75.

6)  Make sure to buy an Energy Star rated appliance!

7)  Keep the lights off at night as much as possible, it makes the space seem cooler.

Answer 15

When the day's not especially hot, I just turn off the air conditioning and have a few windows open to get a breeze moving through my house.

Answer 16

use simple things to keep your house cooler

for example, but shades on the outside of your house, to keep the least amount of sunlight in as possible...

i would keep it at 83-85...

try to keep other electronic appliances on for the least amount of time...

like if you leave your tv on for no reason, turn it off...listen to an ipod or somethin..

any simple steps and you will see results on your bill..

=)

good luck

Answer 17

Open your windows instead.

Answer 18

seal doors/windows, light color paint, green roof, attic exhaust, i'm sure theres more

Answer 19

It really depends on the climate you live in.  If you live in the south where it's very humid then a "swamp cooler" will not do you any good.  However, if you live in the southwest desert area then a swap cooler is a great choice.

If you have to have AC in the area you live in then the best way to save money on your bills is to replace the old HVAC units with new high efficiency ones.  Check out the SEER rating of your existing unit versus the newer ones.  My guess is you now have one that is somewhere around 12.  They now offer residential units up to 19.  The higher the number the more efficient.

Another option would be to look into water source units.  They basically use the heat or coolness of the ground to heat and cool your house.  I won't bore you with details but basically your AC unit takes the heat from the house, puts it into water, and then the water is ran in a loop thru the ground and is cooled.

The biggest issue with these options is first cost.  Both are going to cost you more right now but will save you money in the future.  In a typical house you are probably looking at about 15-20 years, depending on energy cost, for a "pay back" time.  That is when the total savings will equal the total first cost.

Answer 20

Have you heard of a swamp cooler/ or evaperative cooler? look it up on the net. Estimated cost of install is 1/8 to 1/2 of refrigerated a/c. Estimated cost of operation is about 1/4 of that of refrigerated a/c.

Answer 21

Keep your air conditioner set at 72 to 78 degrees when you are home and turn it off when you are not. I keep the drapes closed during the day. I also put window film on my windows that get the most sun to deflect the heat. At night, I open the whole house and put fans in the windows to bring in the cool air and leave them open all night. If there are windows across from each other, I put one fan facing in and one facing out. One draws in the cool air and the other pushes the hot air out. I close up the house by 7 a.m. The house usually stays cool until around 3. If I know how hot it is going to be that day, I set the air to go on before it gets hot (around 2 p.m.) in the house to keep the house at an even temperature and the ac doesn't have to work so hard to cool the house. Our electric bill stays pretty low and we stay cool even when it is a really hot day. We also try to cut back on other electric usage and do the laundry or running the dishwasher at night when the house is open.

We installed a fan and vent in the attic that goes on when it gets hot up there and it pushes the hot air out the vent and it helps the attic to stay cooler.  If the attic is cooler, so will your house be. Hope these ideas help.

Answer 22

if heat is coming in through the windows you can put plastic on them....they sell window plastic at walmart....i do mine in the winter..keep the front door closed ..even if u have a screen door,the heat still comes in! run ur ceiling fans!

Answer 23

If you can afford to, I would consider installing a vent fan in your attic or ceiling crawlspace. Most of the heat in your house comes from poor insulation in this area. I cut a hundred dollars off of my bill by getting a vent fan.

Answer 24

You may want to try a "swamp cooler," a great alternative to air conditioning at a fraction of the cost.  Also called an evaporative cooling system.  You should be able to get one for about the price of a month's electricity.  Do a google search for swamp cooler, and you should find some great deals, and even plans for making your own.

Answer 25

buy yourself a fan.... works everytime

Answer 26

Keep your thermostat at 78 with the fan switch on “auto.”

Cool your home only when you're there. When you leave for the day, move the thermostat up to 82 and turn it back down to 78 when you come back. It costs a lot less to bring the temperature down to 78 than it does to keep it at 78 all day. You can even buy an inexpensive programmable thermostat that will do this for you automatically, so your home will be nice and cool whenever you're there...and you won't be wasting money when you're not.

Remind everyone in the family how thermostats work: Your house won’t cool down faster if you set the thermostat at 70. It just wastes money. If you want the temperature at 78, set the thermostat at 78.

Ceiling fans don't actually cool a room; they just make you feel cooler. That means they don't do you any good when nobody's in the room so you can turn them off. Try setting your thermostat a few degrees higher and use your ceiling fan to keep you cool while you are in the room. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month, depending on age and size.

Clean or change your A/C filter once a month. A clogged filter makes your A/C work harder than it has to.

Maintain proper airflow through your system. Keep the interior door and vents open to help your A/C circulate air more efficiently.

Keep sunlight out during summer months. If you have a lot of windows, you'll save on air conditioning if you keep the drapes or blinds closed when you're not home.

Check your duct system for leaks. If you have central air, check all the ducts and seals. If they leak, you're wasting money.

Consider buying a new A/C system. How old is your air conditioner? The older it is, the less efficient it is. And if it's 10 years old or more, it's probably really inefficient.

Answer 27

fans and cross breezes

Answer 28

The cheapest way is to plant shade trees around your house. This helps to cool your house dramatically.

If you are about to build a home, I strongly recc'd building a hillside house. This saves you money in the winter and summer. It is also a great protector in hurricanes.

Answer 29

ice and a fan. :)

No seriously, I stuffed old t shirts directly behind the vent (just unscrewed the vent cover then put it back on) in the rooms I do not sleep, dine, and relax in. (my work and storage rooms)  I keep the doors closed on them.  Keep you closet doors shut too.  Add insulation inside of your walls.   Make sure there is no cleareance under or above your doors.  You can use woodglue, a saw, sandpaper and some scrap wood and paint to add to your door to make it fill the door space.  Also you can just stuff towels or linnens in the gaps if you do not have a woman around the house.  The same goes for windows.  Also, pay attention to the weather, and the wind, so you can turn the thing off and open your windows and or run fans when the weather is nice.  Most people just leave it on thermostat all of the time.

Answer 30

put a pan of water with a fan in front of it. same principle, much cheaper.

Answer 31

Hire someone to wave palm fronds.