As temperatures — and utility bills — rise, some easy ways to keep cool are cheaper and greener than air conditioning.
A little savvy about when to open windows and when to keep them closed with curtains drawn goes a long way toward cooling a home, as does putting thought into what cooling appliances to use and when, the experts say.
• COOLING CURTAINS.
Pull down the shades or draw the curtains on windows facing south, east and west during the day, says Con Edison, the power company for the New York City area. It says 40 percent of unwanted heat shines in through the windows. Even if air conditioning is needed later in the day, drawing the curtains earlier means you’ll need less.
“And it’s better to shade the outside of the window than the inside,” said Abigail Daken, cooling products manager for Washington, D.C.-based Energy Star, an Environmental Protection Agency program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the climate through energy efficiency. “Shutters and awnings are very effective,” Daken said.