What are some good ways I can keep my house cool w/o using up so much electricity?

Question

I'm using dark curtains right now. Should I switch to light curtains? I'm sure something is wrong with my a.c, and I need to get it looked at...I keep it set on 72, but the temp in my house runs around 78...any help to cool down my house would be great.

Answer 1

For now, as repairs are costly, wear light cotton clothing. Wash off at night, showers waste water, so short cool, shower in the evenings to keep  you cool through the night. If you can, leave your hair damp, it will make your scalp feel cold. Put simple fans in or in front of windows, open window halfway on opposite ends or sides of your home to create cross drafts, angle a basement fan up the stairs to blow cold air up.

Or go in your basement for awhile.  Do buy thermal backed curtains, (rubber backed). They block off heat well, you can even just close them half way to block the direct light, leaving indirect sunlight to light your home. Set up oscillating fans around the house to move air. Drink plenty of water, eat high protein, low sugar and low carb foods, as they make you feel cooler. Eat less in general. Do not do hard labor during the heat of the day if possible. Do quiet work, or office work instead. Save the other for early morning or after the sun is down on the horizon. If this cannot be avoided, drink a lot of water and wear lightweight clothing if possible.

Answer 2

i like the window tinting suggestion.

Dark curtains are inside the house, so will absorb heat and let it into the house. Lighter curtains would probably work better, and they do make lighter curtains with a heat reflective backing. Window tinting for low-E applications actually does block out a bit of radiation that would have heated up your interior. It also works to keep heat in in the winter.

Answer 3

Move your house inside of Al Gore's mansion

Answer 4

Change the filter in the AC every 6 months. More expensive option: double paned argon insulated windows. Insulate attic and crawl space.  Open and close windows for maximum breeze or insulation needs.

Answer 5

At night open ever lower window a inch. Put big fans in the upstairs window and close your curtains. Opening windows to large lets in way to much heat.

Answer 6

Open windows at night to let the cool air in. In the morning close windows to keep the cool air in.Pull/close window shades to keep the sun light out.

Answer 7

mave to alaska.

Answer 8

Open basement door. Place fan in basement to blow cool air upstairs.

Answer 9

light curtains and light paint on the walls will keep your house cool and always open your windows

Answer 10

You WILL spend money.  

If you plan to retire in that home, you can invest in more insulation and a new heat pump.  Plant fast growing trees on the south side of the house.  Install a Solar Powered Attic fan.

If you are living there only temporarily AND water is cheep, visit a garden dept and purchase a water mist nozzel that puts out one quart per hour.  spray this onto your current heat pump.  This will increase the efficiency of the air conditioner's heat/cooling cycle.  Shade the heat pump.

Rather than dark curtains, go the automotive store and purchase window tint. The darker the tint, the better the E rating your windows will have, you only have to do this on the sunward side of the house.

If you have an attic, purchase a box fan that will fit the opening.  Cut  1/4" plywood to sit on top the opening.  Cut a hole just small enough to mount the fan to it.  Turn it on during the evening when the sun has gone down and the outside temp is below 80.  Open all the windows on the first floor only two inches.  Open the windows upstairs 4 inches.  This will cool your house faster than the air conditioner and cheaper.  Why the attic?  The storage of hot air in the attic will keep the upstairs ceiling hot for the rest of the night.  You need to blow the hot air in the attic OUT.

My house has a light switch for an outlet in the attic.  I have save five hundred dollars per year by not using AC in late spring and early fall and not using ac in the summer evenings.