Daily Home Renovation Tips

Editor’s Note: To view the 500+ different energy and water conservation tips for the home we have collected, simply access our Un-Official Guide To Home Energy & Water Conservation, 2nd Edition

Yesterday we reviewed the first 10 of our 30+ home cooling energy conservation tips which will cost you next to nothing to do.

Today we review the next 13 from the 30 different ideas to keeping a home cooler in the summer which will cost you a little yet save you a lot.

Number 195, Vent Blocker Cover, is the best way we have found to stop cooled air from the air conditioner form passing through closed duct vents and going into areas that are not used. They are very inexpensive (e.g. 2 for $6) yet they really do the trick.

Number 196, Caulking (strippable on attic opening).Just as you use caulking around window frames outside the house to stop hot air from entering so should you around your interior access area to your attic. We use the strippable type of caulking so we can easily remove it if / when we need to go into the attic.

Number 197, Inside Door Draft Stoppers, are useful at the bottom of interior doors for rooms you do not use very much. Even with closing the door to rooms which are little used to stop cooled air from your air conditioner from entering, this cooled air can still go through the gap at the bottom of the door. By installing a door draft stopper on the interior door of a little used room, you keep the cool air within the areas of the home you do use and thus help to reduce the amount of time your A/C unit has to run.

Number 198, Electrical Panel Doors. If you have a cabinet encasing your electrical panel, you should consider using weather stripping to seal any air leaks. We used this to stop a lot of air leaks and keep the cooled air inside the house.

Number 199, Weather Stripping on Windows, is of course useful to eliminate gaps through which hot air can enter from the outside and air cooled by your A/C unit can escape.

Number 200, Electrical Outlet Child Proof Covers. Remember, even the smallest air leaks means your air conditioner will work harder and longer to provide you with cooled air inside your home and cost you money through increased electric bills throughout the summer.

Number 201, Electric Outlet Insulating Seals, will significantly reduce large air leaks in the large openings around electrical outlets.

Number 202, Wall Light Switch Insulating Seals, just like those for electrical outlets in tip number 201 above, will also reduce significant air leaks to reduce the amount of time your air conditioner will work.

Number 203, Shade Tree on South Side of Home, will help provide against your south walls and thus help reduce heat transference into your home, as well as providing shade against your south windows to help prevent direct sun light from entering and causing excessive heat build-up inside which, yes, will cause your air conditioner to work longer.

Number 204, Plant Shade Trees Per Mature Sizing, is a reminder to not go over board and plant shade trees to close so you can’t see through them when they reach maturity, unless you really want this type of privacy.

Number 205, Plant Trees Away from Power Lines, Number 206, Plant Trees Away from Sewers, and Number 207, Plant Trees Away from Sunken (cable and power) Lines are all good reminders to take into account in planning where to place any new shade trees.

Tomorrow, the remainder of our cheap home cooling tips.

To access the next article in this series about inexpensive ways to keep your home a bit cooler in the summer, simply select this link to Part 3.