The heat wave that has been hitting us lately has gotten a lot of us thinking about what we can do to minimize air conditioning costs. You would be surprised at the number of things in your house that create heat. Your air conditioning costs are directly related to the amount of heat that it needs to offset. Things in my home that make a lot of heat, that you wouldn’t normally think about include:
Apple TV – In standby mode, the box is warm to the touch. I don’t use the Apple TV very often so I just unplug it when not in use.
Panini press or toaster – I like a good Panini but that thing stays hot for a good hour after it’s unplugged. I started setting it up on my deck so I can still have my grilled sandwiches and not heat up the kitchen. Another plus – food just tastes better when it’s cooked outside.
Showering – Like most people, I like a hot shower. Even on the hottest day, the bathroom can be hotter than the outdoors. Consider opening the window for 5 or 10 minutes to let the humidity and excess heat outside rather than letting it get released into the house.
Computers – At my home, there are four laptops. Although they are turned off when not in use, the charger plug is warm. Consider unplugging and/or turning off monitors and laptops when not in use.
Portable dehumidifier – Portable dehumidifiers have a compressor and compressors give of heat. If possible, let your air conditioner do the dehumidification rather than using a dedicated portable dehumidifier.
Stereo – I used to keep my old stereo inside the TV cabinet, under the TV. When I opened the door, there was a noticeable temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the cabinet. You might consider unplugging your stereo when it’s not in use.
Tell us about what you do to keep cool in the summer. What advice would you give?