Cooperative Living July 2015 - 29

Most energy-efficiency improvements,
such as caulking, weatherstripping
and insulation, are made to reduce
heat loss during winter. They also
reduce heat gain during summer. Check
the insulation in your attic to make sure
there are no voids or thin areas where it
may have loosened or blown around,
and ensure all attic vents are not
blocked by the insulation.
A great deal of heat is generated
inside a home from cooking, bathing
and running electric appliances, causing
the air conditioner to work harder to
remove the additional heat. When
cooking or bathing, run the range hood
or bath exhaust fan to remove the extra
heat and moisture.
During the summer, use countertopcooking
appliances, such as a slow
cooker, in the garage or outdoors to
reduce indoor heat and humidity generation.
Remember to unplug phone and
computer chargers and other electrical
items when they are not being used.
Even though each device uses a small
amount of electricity, they generate
heat, which can add up quickly.
Wash dishes and clothes at night;
avoid washing in the afternoons during
peak heat. The heat given off from the
hot water and electricity used by the
motors will stress your air conditioner
less at night. This also reduces the peak
electricity demand for your utility
provider.
Keeping air moving inside your home
increases evaporative cooling from your
skin to keep you comfortable at a higher
indoor temperature. Running a ceiling
paddle fan is very effective for this.
Keep in mind the electric motor in the
fan actually heats the room air, so turn
it off when the room is unoccupied.
Set the ceiling fan on medium to high
speed and the rotation switch so it blows
the air downward. During winter, change
the switch setting so the air blows
upward and set it on a slower speed.
On a breezy, not excessively hot day,
try opening some windows. Widely
open several windows on the downwind
side of your home, and slightly open
windows on the windward side. Due to
the pressure difference, this causes the
air to blow in the partially opened windows
much faster, creating a breeze in
that room using no electricity.
Another option for staying cool is
building a solar chimney, which uses
the sun's heat to ventilate your house
for free. This is a tall wooden chimney
with two clear sides from the ceiling to
above the roof. When the sun shines
into the clear sides, it heats the air.
Since hot air rises, it naturally exhausts
air from your house. This works well
when using natural ventilation on a still
day. Block the ceiling opening with an
insulated panel when air conditioning
or heating.
A whole-house ventilation fan, often
located in a hall ceiling, can draw huge
amounts of air through your house. For
times when the air is not excessively
humid, run the fan at night. This can
cool down the entire house and delay
the time in the morning when the air
conditioner has to come back on. n
For more information, send inquiries to
James Dulley, Cooperative Living inquiry,
6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or
visit www.dulley.com.
July 2015/www.co-opliving.com
27
http://www.dulley.com
Cooperative Living July 2015

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