Unity EarthCare Tip of the Month of August

August 2025

Optimize your house for efficient air conditioning.

It’s still summer and we need to cool down!

The prior month (July, 2025) Tip of the Month suggested making your home air conditioning more efficient by using fans to help circulate the cold air. That actually allows you to set your thermostat at a higher temperature to help save some energy even while using your air conditioner. 

Here are some other small pieces of advice to further help staying cool while minimizing your use of electrical energy:

Clear the area around the cooling vents (not applicable if you have window or wall-mounted AC units).

• Check each floor vent to make sure it’s open and also not obstructed. Check to make sure that furniture, rugs, chair mats, pet beds and anything else are not blocking the vent.

• If your cooling vents are on the wall above the floor, prudent placement of furniture is even more vital.

• Be sure each vent in rooms you use is open. Close the vents in any unused rooms.

Use window coverings to keep out heat.

• Windows that allow full sunshine in are wonderful but they also make the interior temperature warm up. Consider drawing close any vertical or horizontal blinds, shades, curtains and other window coverings. 

• You may wish to invest in plastic sun shields for the windows as well as black-out drapes.

• Another alternative is growing shrubbery or trees outside that will in time help block the direct sunlight.

Make sure your windows are air-tight

• Just as you may insulate windows during winter to keep out the cold, you may likewise insulate during the summer keep out the excess heat.

• Caulk, tape or use plastic to cover any cracks or small openings.