Before you know it the sweltering heat of summer will be upon us and both the temperature and your home energy bills will be rising. Conventional HVAC air conditioning systems account for most of a typical home's energy use. There are some alternatives which will dramatically reduce energy consumption and help keep tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
Whole House Fans
Whole house fans have been around for decades, even before air conditioning. Modern whole house fans are much quieter and move air in a more efficient manner. Whole house fans work to assist the natural convection of air, moving it up from the lower floors and out the attic. Since outside air is often cooler than inside air they can remove much of the heat inside a home. When air temperature between inside and outside is the same the still offer the cooling effect of a light breeze throughout the home. Whole house fans may draw from 200 to 1500 watts but are still much more energy efficient than using an HVAC unit.
Swamp Coolers
Swamp coolers draw heat out of the air using water. This old fashioned technology has been around since the 1800's. Air is drawn from inside or outside a home and blown through a wet mesh type material using a powerful fan. These type of coolers only work where the humidity is very low. For this reason swamp coolers are only used in desert or arid areas. Even in these areas swamp coolers may cause humidity problems inside the home.
Geothermal or Ground Source Heat Pumps
One of the most efficient means of cooling a modern home is by using geothermal energy. Ground source heat pumps have been installed in all fifty states and every province in Canada. Unlike whole house fans and swamp coolers they can maintain a constant temperature inside the home and both heat and cool.
Geothermal heat pumps require enough yard space for the heat exchange field to be buried or for shallow wells to be drilled. These systems cost about twice to three times the cost of a conventional air conditioning unit but use only about half the energy. Ground source heat pumps require little maintenance and systems can last for years. Government rebates of up to thirty percent are available for homeowners installing these type of systems.
Other Measures
If you cannot afford to replace your HVAC system there are some things you can do to help it work more efficiently. For outside units make sure the heat dissipation fins are clean and free of dirt. Spray water through these to clean them out. Be careful not to use too much water pressure to avoid damage to the delicate aluminum fins.
Solar screens are a great way to help your home stay cool. These reflect UV energy and keep it from heating the window glass. Solar film is another way to keep west facing windows cool and prevent the sun's heat from entering the home. Also, make sure your attic is well ventilated. Attic fans remove heat from your attic and prevent it from radiating down though the ceiling. Other measures include planting trees on the sunny side of your home and using lighter color exterior paint to reflect the sun's rays.
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