25条通往凉爽居室的省钱途径

比如把灯与自动调温装置的距离拉大,如此简单的改变就可以省下几百美元, 即省钱又节省能源.

当然,把自动调温装置调至80. 你还是会流汗,依然要支付一大笔钱;除非你采用其他步骤来使夏日的炙热变得柔和,从而减轻空调的负担.

这里提出的许多方法几乎不用花费你一分一厘. 感谢能源部门的节约能源项目,在它的网站上公布这些生活小贴士.

大大利用你的空气调节装置

• 打开窗户,使用便携式或者悬挂于天花板的风扇替代空调.持续,适度的风速,每小时风速1米,可让你感觉到降低3或四度后的凉爽.确定悬挂于天花板的风扇是开夏天档的-你可以感到风是往下吹的.如果你的居住环境相对干燥,那么可以在风扇箱前放一碗或一盘冰块,因为冰块再蒸发的同时也可以制冷.
• 在使用窗式空调的同时,打开电扇,从而可以散播冷空气.
• 为了保证空气流通,建议把外设的压缩机装在一个隐蔽的位置.夏天期间,每个月更换一次空气过滤器.
• 使用空调上的可编程调温装置可以再夜间或家里无人的情况下,调节设置.
• 不要把灯或电视机安置再空调调温装置附近. 因为这些器械会使空调运行的时间增长.
• 如果气候适宜,也可以考虑安装一部可以作用于整间屋子的电扇或是蒸汽式冷却装置(一种煤层聚水的冷却器). 由于顶楼聚集了大量的热量,一台可以作用整间屋子的电扇需要有相应的尺寸,并且放置在合适的位置,以此通过底楼的窗户吹动空气,然后再从屋顶排放.这样不仅可以降温,而且其降低的耗能相当于三台空调.如果自己安装这样一台电扇要花200-400美元.一台蒸汽式冷却装置的基本原理是在冰水浸泡过的垫子上推动空气,使用的能源是冷却空气能源的四分之一.花费仅在200-600美元之间.(参见”没有空调也可以制冷”)
• 安装白色遮光帘,窗帘或百叶窗来反射屋子里的热量. 白天的时候,拉上南面和西面的窗帘在南面的窗户上可以安装遮阳篷.因为太阳,树木,格架或者栅栏的一角会在南面窗上留下阴影.在南面窗户上装控制阳光的薄膜或其他可反射阳光的薄膜
  

美化冷却屋内景观

• 种植树木或灌木来遮蔽空气调节装置,但不要阻碍空气流动.在阴凉处操作该设备可以省电.
• 生长在格架上的攀缘植物,比如常春藤或葡萄藤可以遮蔽窗户或房子的整面.
• 尽量避免再南面和西面布置大量不遮光线的岩石,水泥或者沥青.因为他们会增加房屋周围的温度,并且在太阳落下后把热量转移到屋内.
• 在西面,南面种植落叶树可以使你的房屋整个夏天都保持凉爽.仅仅三棵树,只要适当种植在房屋周围,就可以每年省几百美金的空调费. 在夏天,有树荫庇护的房屋,白天可以降温3-6度.

不要忽略细节

• 用白炽灯泡替代紧密的荧光灯.因为白炽灯仅损耗荧光灯五分之一的能量和热量.
• 自然风干碗,拒绝使用洗碗机来干燥碗
• 使用微波炉替代传统的电器或烤箱
• 不使用电脑和监视器的时候就关闭它们的电源
• 把类似电视和录像机的家电的电源插在电源板上,不用的时候就把插头拔下.
• 调低热水器上的自动调温器,一般115度的温度就让人很舒服了
• 经常使用淋浴方式来洗澡,尽量少泡浴缸,这样可以减少用水量.
• 当碗和衣服都堆满的时候再清洁.

不要盲目地制冷房屋的各个角落

• 夏天的时候,封住窗或门的挡风雨条可以保持室内凉爽的温度.
• 如果你发现管道上出现洞或有裂缝,赶快请专业人员来修理.
• 当空气调节装置被安装在条件恶劣的空间的时候,再其管道上绑上绝缘材料,比如安装在屋顶,槽隙或者车库,当然当电扇被安装在室外或屋顶时候也该采取这样的措施.
• 检查你的壁炉节气闸是否关紧.

提前规划

在你的房屋的制冷设施运行正常的时候就开始升级以及维修,这样既省钱又有效.

• 例如,一台使用了10年的空调的效率是一台新机的一半.提前检查你的空调的效率可以辅助你决定是否有必要找专业服务人来来维修.使用家用温度计来测量出风口和进风口的温度.(把温度计放置5分钟,从而得到一个稳定的温度值).专家说两者间的温差为14至20度.如果空调的制冷度达不到这些水平,则可能是制冷剂过少或者有空调有漏出物.如果制冷设备的温度超过20度那么问题很严重
• 在一个新的屋顶放置亮鹅卵石可以降低房屋所吸收的热量.再涂一层亮色的油漆,尤其是油漆在面向南面以及西面的外部,效果很显著.
• 升级顶楼和周围的双层玻璃窗,在图上一层油漆来反射阳光,同样也是很好的方法.

Sweepstakes: Win a Honeywell HEPAClean Germ Fighting Air Purifier!

Prize Description:
The UV HEPAClean Tower Air Purifier features an advanced air cleaning system that combines 3 powerful air cleaning technologies into one delivering cleaner, fresher air to your home. Germ Fighting Ultraviolet Technology helps reduce certain viruses, bacteria, fungi and mold spores while the HEPAClean filters capture up to 99% of airborne particles such as dust, pet dander, smoke and pollen*. In addition, the enhanced odor control carbon zeolite pre-filter helps reduce common household odors such as pet, cooking, nursery and smoke odors. The long-life HEPAClean filters can be vacuumed or replaced when the Filter Check Light indicates the filter is dirty. The easy-to-use LCD controls give you up to 12 different cleaning power levels. It also features a 1-18 hour auto shut-off timer, an optional ionizer for extra cleaning power and optional oscillation to enhance air circulation. The sleek tower design saves space and will look great in any room in your home. Most effective for medium to large size rooms.

Honeywell HHT-145 HEPAClean Germ Fighting Air Purifier with Odor Reduction
A $299.99 Value! (Buy One HERE)
Drawing Date 7-15-11, Enter up to Once a Day
Enter Sweepstakes

Plan ahead

More costly but effective cooling measures are available as your home undergoes normal upgrades and repairs.

• A 10-year-old air conditioner, for example, is only half as efficient as a new one. A quick check of your air conditioner's efficiency can help you decide whether to call in a service professional. Use a household thermometer to measure the temperature of the discharge air from the register and the temperature of the return air at the return-air grill. (Keep the thermometer in place for five minutes to get a steady temperature.) The difference should be from 14 to 20 degrees, experts say. An air conditioner that's not cooling to those levels could be low on refrigerant or have leaks. A unit cooling more than 20 degrees could have a severe blockage.
• Using light shingles on a new roof can cut the amount of heat the house absorbs. Repainting in a light color, especially south- and west-facing exterior areas, helps as well.
• Upgraded insulation in the attic and double-paned windows all around, complete with tinting to reflect sunlight, are good ideas, too.

Don't air-condition the whole neighborhood

• Caulking and weatherstripping will keep cool air in during the summer.
• If you see holes or separated joints in your ducts, hire a professional to repair them.
• Add insulation around air conditioning ducts when they are located in unconditioned spaces such as attics, crawl spaces, and garages; do the same for whole-house fans where they open to the exterior or to the attic.
• Check to see that your fireplace damper is tightly closed.

Little things mean a lot

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat
• Air-dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional electric range or oven.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and VCRs, into power strips, and turn power strips off when equipment is not in use.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater; 115° is comfortable for most uses.
• Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.