Keeping Cool Sustainably
Jessa Tremblay
I’m not sure if you all have gone outside this week, but it
is HOT! We are in the middle of a record setting heat wave right now in the
country and our electrical systems are being put to the test. Our increased
electrical usage is bad for our pocketbooks and is bad for the environment! So
how can we take care of the planet while also making sure we are comfortable?
Quick easy solutions for the home:
1. Invest in some thick, light color shades for your windows. Any window that receives direct light lets in a lot of heat. The shades help insulate the windows keeping your room much cooler than if direct sunlight was able to penetrate. You can increase the effectiveness of this if you have white or light colored curtains.
"Curtains in Ivory Linen with Coral Hem and Sheers" by DesignFolly.com is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
2. Replace the filter on your AC unit. Your AC unit runs inefficiently if your filter is dirty! Making sure this is replaced regularly will help your system run better and use less electricity. This could reduce your energy consumption up to 15%.
"dirty filter" by ryeckman is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
3. Wash your laundry on cold then hang your clothes to dry. Both the washing machine and the dryer are creating heat when they run. This heat can then radiate into your house. Doing this will help keep your house cool and reduce your electricity consumption.
"Vintage line-drying" by Andrea_R is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
4. Avoid cooking inside using heat. Once again these
appliances generate a lot of heat that needs to go somewhere and that somewhere
is your house. Instead of cooking with your stove or oven try making something
that requires no appliances like a salad! (Bonus points if you don’t use meat) If
you do need to cook a warm meal, wait for the evening once temperatures start
to cool or cook outside on a grill.
Cooling Investment solutions:
We just looked through some solutions that are simple and cheap to do, but what if you want to do something bigger? Due to climate change, temperatures like this are probably going to become more normal. You might want to consider investing in some bigger projects that can reduce your long-term energy consumption!
1. Plant trees. Planting trees in strategic places throughout your yard is a simple way to keep your house cool. Just think about when you take a walk through Warner Parks. You can feel just how much cooler it is once you are under the canopy. Planting trees near your home can block direct sunlight and will keep your house about 5 degrees cooler otherwise.
2. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Many houses do not have the proper amount of insulation and they have air leaks. This means you are using more energy to heat and cool your house because the warm and cool air escapes. Luckily there are tests you can perform on your house where you can find those air leaks and fix them!
3. Replace your windows. Old single pane windows let in a lot of heat and are huge sources for air leaks. Newer double paned windows are insulated which means you’ll use less energy and feel more comfortable!
4. Install a geothermal heating and cooling system. Have you ever been inside of a cave in the middle of summer? Caves are remarkably cool because they are underground For example caves here in Tennessee usually hover around 60 degrees inside. Geothermal heating and cooling systems tap into this idea and use the ground to heat and cool your home.
7. Use solar panels creatively. Not only can you generate energy by installing solar panels, you can create shade! Use solar panels to shade a carport, a back porch or even over a pool.
"Solar Panel Car Port" by Dave Dugdale is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
There are many different ways we can beat the heat sustainably. It’s important now more than ever that we start to implement thing like these ideas into our every day life. It’s only going to get hotter and we need to find new solutions to use less electricity.
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