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 middle collection of our 30+ home cooling energy conservation tips which will cost you next to nothing to do.

Today we review the final suggestions 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 208, Use White Window Coverings To Reflect the Sun, was a suggestion received from one of the contestants in our Fall 2008 Home Energy Conservation Tips contest. Just like sports teams try to wear white on hot sunny days and not dark colours, the same approach is suggested with window coverings.

Number 209, Climbing Flowers On Exterior Wall, provides a very good solution to prevent the direct sun light from directly hitting the brick or siding on south walls. By providing a natural barrier, the brinks or siding will not become as hot and, will therefore not transfer this heat to the inside of the home.

Number 210, Small Tree / Bush Beside Air Conditioning Unit, is useful where the air conditioning unit is in the direct sun light. In order to prevent the sun from heating up the air conditioning unit, a small tree or shrubbery can provide shade to keep the A/C unit cooler and thus work more efficiently.

Number 211, Ensure Screen / Storm Doors Work, is a reminder to check them periodically for any gaps when closed. Any gaps found should be fixed / sealed to stop hot air from the outside entering inside the house and causing the air conditioner to work longer than it needs to work to keep the inside air cool.

Number 212, Caulking (Window / Exterior Door Frame), seals any gaps between the window or door frame and the exterior wall through which hot outside air can enter the home.

Number 213, Seal Pipes & Electrical Gaps on Outside Walls. Yet another area where cooled inside air can leak out and hot outside air can enter the home is through leaks where water lines, phone and cable lines, main electrical line, etc. go through the exterior wall. Make sure such gaps are adequately sealed with exterior caulking to prevent such air leaks.

Number 214, Kitty / Doggy Door Flap Hinges Well Oiled, submitted by another former contest entrant, is a good reminder that in order for our pet’s personal door to close properly we need to ensure that it swings freely, which it can only do if it’s hinges are well oiled. The last thing want is for Fido’s door to remain ajar causing lots and lots of hot outside air to enter the home and, yet again, cause the air conditioner to continue to run, costing us money through higher electric utility bills throughout the summer.

Number 215, Eliminate Air Leaks Around Window Air Conditioning Units. Are you getting the idea that there are lots and lots and lots of different places where hot air can leak into your home causing the air conditioner, be it a window based unit or a central unit, to work harder than it should to cost you money in much higher electric utility bills?

Number 216, Insulate Around Exterior Door Frames, is yet another suggestion of where you can stop hot outside air from entering  your home.

Number 217, Hang Thick Curtain in Entryway, is an approach one contestant in our recent Home Energy and Water Conservation Tips contest said they used to stop hot air from entering their home (because they have a poorly insulated front door).

And there you have it … 30+ home cooling ideas which are cheap to do yet will significantly reduce your high summer electric bill from continual air conditioning use.

Next time, we’ll review the ideas to keep your home cool in the summer that cost a bit but some of which can pay big dividends in significantly reducing your high summer time home electric bills.

To continue to the next article in this series on home cooling tips, simply select this link to More Costly Home Cooling Tips - 1.