It sure seems like it's going to be a long, hot summer after some of the record-breaking heat that’s been afflicting the Mid-Ohio area. Not only do you feel like you’re taking a beating, but you also might be hit with a knockout blow when it comes to energy bills this summer. To bring down the costs, find ways to reduce your cooling load.
Your cooling load is affected by heat gain occurring in areas throughout your house, including the roof, attic, ceilings, walls, floors, and internal heat gain from appliances and lighting.
The more heat that these areas introduce into your home, the harder your air conditioner or other cooling means has to work to get rid of that heat, which can add up to some hefty energy bills.
To reduce energy bills while maintaining a comfortable indoor climate for you and your family, you should address each of these areas to determine how you can modify them to reduce heat gain in the home. Here are some ideas to reduce your cooling load even with record temperatures:
- Find air leaks in your home's exterior and seal them.
- Use reflective panels on the roof to divert the intense sunlight.
- Install an attic fan to ventilate the attic.
- Add blown-in attic insulation, which assists in ventilation and stopping heat conduction.
- Check for leaks in ductwork and get these sealed.
- Create a natural shield from sunlight by adding trees and plants that can provide a canopy.
- Put protective covers on windows such as reflective films or invest in window shades.
Changing your lifestyle can reduce cooling loads, especially those created through internal gains. Habits may be hard to break but doing so can lead to lower energy bills. Here are some quick tips:
- Don’t use your oven until the evening, and use the barbecue and microwave more often.
- Vent the dryer to go outside.
- Set your thermostat higher.
For more expert advice about reducing your cooling load and getting some relief from those high energy bills, contact Joe Behr Plumbing & Heating. We provide quality HVAC services to the Mid-Ohio area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Mid-Ohio area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy bills and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
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