Keep Your Cool in the Summer Heat

Even the most diligent environmentalists have been breaking down in recent days and turning on the air conditioning. A heat index of 115 will do that. So when you must turn on the air conditioning, keep these tips in mind to lessen your dependence on the device and maximize its efficiency. 

John Owens, president and CEO of Owens Companies, Inc., an air conditioning and heating company, and former member of the Edina Energy and Environment Commission, said one of the most common mistakes people make is neglecting to do preventive maintenance on their air conditioning systems. As long as there’s cold air coming out, people often go years without checking the system. 

If it ain’t broke, right? 

“We don’t think about it. We’re all so busy, we turn it on and if it works we don’t think about it,” Owens said. “But when it doesn’t work it’s always on the first hot day.” 

Owens recommends having your air conditioning system checked annually. On your own, you can check and replace air filters as needed and hose off the condensing unit outside. To really get it clean, though, you might want to look to a technician–especially when you consider that dirty coils in the condensing unit can prevent your system from cooling efficiently. 

Speaking of efficiency, the older models just don’t have it. If your air conditioning system is dated and you want to lessen your eco-guilt while running it, consider upgrading to a new model. With rebates still available for energy efficient appliances, now might be the right time. Or, you know, a week before the heat wave hit would have been ideal—but now works, too.

And what if you’re just trying to keep the air conditioner off, betting against your family members or roommates on who will buckle first? There are a few tricks you can utilize to stave off the urge to flip it on.

• Try putting cold water or ice on pulse points like your wrists or temples. It has an overall cooling effect.

• Fans are your friends. If you don’t have central air, they can help your air conditioner spread the cold air around the house. And when the heat isn’t too extreme, sometimes a breeze from a fan is all you need. 

• The sun heats up the outside, and it heats up the inside as well. Keep the shades drawn to keep the indoor temperature down. And if you don’t mind the dim lighting, keep the lights off inside as much as possible as well. Remember that indoor lights also generate heat. 

• Abandon the oven when it’s hot outside. Choose cold, fresh foods instead. Or take dinner outside with a grill or picnic. For dessert, eat popsicles. Lots of them.