The hot, dry days of summer are here and many in Clark County are looking for ways to stay cool.
In normal times, when the thermometer spiked, folks without air conditioning could cool off with a day at the local pool, a shopping trip or by reading at the library. However, the social distancing guidelines established to stop the spread of COVID-19 put those options out of reach.
For most, staying cool is a matter of comfort. For others, it’s a medical necessity. Regardless of where on the spectrum you land, this may be the year you decide to purchase an air conditioner.
“Air conditioning was once considered a pretty expensive luxury in our region,” said Clark Public Utilities Energy Services Supervisor DuWayne Dunham. “But the units have become more affordable and efficient over the years. Plus, our customers who have embraced electric heat pumps, which are extremely efficient, enjoy both heating and cooling.”
Heat pumps or ductless heat pumps are ideal solutions for electrically heated homes, but they can be expensive and are typically out of reach for renters.
Air conditioners, freestanding or window mounted, start at about a $100 and some can even cool a small home. Across the board they’ve become more efficient than previous generations, but it’s best to purchase one that’s Energy Star rated.
“Air conditioning is pretty affordable to operate,” Dunham said. “An 1100-watt unit running for five hours per day has the potential to cool a room and will cost an additional $13.47 at the end of the month — a pretty small price to pay to beat the heat on those sweltering summer days.”
If you’re not ready to purchase an air conditioner, you can still cool off, it just may take a little extra effort.
Ceiling fans and free-standing fans don’t lower the air temperature but they can make you feel cooler, plus they add very little to a home’s energy bill.
“Running your home’s central air system fan can circulate air and create a draft throughout the entire home,” Dunham said. “The extra circulation will also filter the air.”
If you forego air conditioning, cool your home off by opening the windows when the outdoor temperature is low and close them before it starts to rise.
Add shade to southern and western facing windows to block the sun’s warming rays. Deciduous trees, awnings and shades will make the biggest differences. If that’s not an option, shade those windows from the inside with drapes, light colored blinds or some other material.
Run appliances as little as possible to reduce the residual heat they produce. Alone, toasters, computers, dishwashers or other appliances don’t produce a lot of heat, but together they produce a surprising amount. To those same ends, consider doing laundry in the evenings, or hang clothes instead of putting them in the dryer.
Cooking on the outside grill, getting takeout or delivery is fun, and it keeps the heat out of your kitchen and the rest of your home.
If nothing else, a cool shower is usually the fastest way to escape the heat without putting too much pressure on your energy bill.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98688.
