Stay Cool, North Country!
In the midst of the dog days of summer, you may be longing for those chilly winter days spent bundled up by the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate. Although winter is never far away in the North Country, summer brings with it a unique set of challenges. It can be difficult to stay comfortable as our summers continue to be hot and muggy. An unintended consequence of this warmer weather is higher electricity bills, especially if you are not conscientious about how you use your air conditioning.
This time of year, it is common to see large and unattractive AC units populating the windows of your neighborhood. Although some buildings may have the luxury of central air conditioning, this is not the reality for many North Country residents. There are a few things to keep in mind to help you feel comfortable and save money this summer. Below are some best practices and tips.
Make sure your AC unit is properly sized. The US Department of Energy (D.O.E.) states that a correctly sized unit accounts for about 20 BTU (British Thermal Units) per square foot (2024). Using this calculation, if you were to purchase a 5000 BTU air conditioning unit, it should be placed in a 250-square-foot room. It is important to note that many 5000 BTU systems claim to cool effectively in rooms up to 150 square feet, which is smaller than the D.O.E. estimate. Factors such as ceiling height should also be taken into consideration, as ceilings taller than 8 feet may require more BTU to cool.
Be smart about placement. Although it is tempting to put your window unit somewhere that is especially hot due to direct sunlight, this will require your AC unit to work even harder. Not only will it use more energy, but it will also shorten the unit’s lifespan. Try to choose a location that is in the shade or out of direct sunlight for most of the day.
Fans are your new best friend. Pushing warm air around might not seem like it would help, but air circulation from a fan can actually make us feel cooler because of the wind chill effect. This perceived temperature drop results from an increase in sweat evaporation, which can make us feel more comfortable without turning up the AC.
Work with the weather, not against it. When the sun is at its most intense, try closing shades or even using blackout curtains to prevent unwanted heat gain. A bonus is that they can also reduce heat loss in the winter. At night or on milder days, open up your windows to create a crossbreeze and let fresh air in. Finally, avoid using heat-producing appliances (like the oven) on especially hot days or during times of peak temperatures in the late afternoon.
Do you have questions about how to be more energy efficient? Contact your local Energy Advisor!
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New York State offers programs to help you stay cool this summer! Through the NYS Department of Health, you can utilize their Essential Plan Cooling Program. This complements assistance that is available through the HEAP Cooling program.
Additionally, you can find a cooling center near you using the new finder map.
References
US Department of Energy. (2024, Dec 30). Room Air Conditioners. Retrieved from www.energy.gov/energysaver/room-air-conditioners.
