join | what's new | site map
Home Site Map Crafting Ideas Family Fun Parenting Home & Garden Holidays Funbook Forums
Your online source for free family fun, craft projects, parenting advice, and more...
Tell a Friend or Two
Cratfs & Fun
Kid's Crafts
Kid's Recipes
Holidays
Family Fun
Our Experts
Ages & Stages
Education
Home & Garden
Just For You
Parenting
Fun Stuff
Pets
Humor
Games
Message Boards
Photo Gallery
Blogs
 

Craft Supplies


  Way Cool - Keeping Cool In Summer
by Gary Foreman

NOTE: If you missed the first page of this article, use the "previous page" button at the bottom of the page or click here to start from the beginning.

Installing a whole house fan isn't cheap. A typical installation by a professional will run in the $1,000 neighborhood. The good news is that it only costs about three cents per hour to operate. The bad news is that you can't use it with your air conditioning and it can be noisy.

Related Articles & Projects: First time here? Don't forget to sign up for our free newsletter!

A cheaper alternative is to use box fans. Box fans can be placed in windows on the warmest (sunlit) side of the house to pull cooler air through the house. They're relatively inexpensive $20 to $40 and require no special installation. Just set them on a window sill and make sure that they're secure enough not to fall off. Again, they're cheap to operate. About one cent per hour. But they're noisy and work best when the outside temperature is about the same or cooler than the inside temp.

Many of us can't conceive of living without air conditioning. When the outside air is ninety a breeze just isn't enough for comfort. But, you don't need to crank the A/C down to seventy and watch the electric meter spin wildly all summer long.


Fans can help your air conditioner work more effectively by moving the cold air produced around the room. Ceiling fans are excellent for this task. Use of a ceiling fan will allow you to raise your thermostat 2 to 4 degrees. That will result in between 10% and 25% less energy use by your air conditioner. A real bargain when you consider that most residential ceiling fans use about 1 cent of electricity per hour even on the fastest speed. They actually consume less than 100 watts per hour. And they can be used with or without air conditioning.

The biggest disadvantage to ceiling fans is getting them installed. Because of the weight and the motion they need to be safely secured to your rafters. And if you want the wiring hidden you'll be trying to fish it through ceiling and walls. Not an easy or inexpensive task.

Click here for previous page Click here for first page





More You Might Like:
Fun at the Beach Survival Kit
Air Drying Clothes Without A Clothesline
Turning Trash Into Cash
Frugal Ways to Winterize Your Home
Saving Money With Baby

About the Author:
Gary Foreman is a former Purchasing Manager and Certified Financial Planner. He currently edits The Dollar Stretcher website. It contains the web's largest collect of free articles to save you time and money. There's even a free weekly email newsletter. Visit and save some money today!

 
Coming Up

Valentine's Day

Not too far from now, Cupid will be shooting his arrow at love birds all over! Visit our Valentine's Day section for fun crafts, great recipes, or gift ideas, you'll find it all here. Here are a few examples to get you started...

More Holidays...



Free Newsletters
 
Contests & Giveaways
new on familycorner.comWin Fun Stuff!

Check out all the fun goodies we are giving away here at FC...

Check out all of our contests here! Giveaways change every couple of weeks, so be sure to check back often. Several giveaways going on at once!

Recently Added
New Stuff

new on familycorner.comMissed the last couple of newsletters? Haven't visited for a while? This section highlights articles and crafts that have recently been added to FC...

Coming Up


Stuffed Strawberries


Valentine Pops


Heart Flowers


Fortune Cookie Valentines
 
FamilyCorner.com Magazine
OUR FRIENDS
Craft Supplies
Family Stickers
Children's Halloween Costumes
Letter Stencils
Family Costume Ideas
FamilyCorner The Blog
Amanda's Cooking Blog
Amanda's Craft Blog
 		MORE GOOD STUFF
Newsletters
Advertising
Services
Submissions
Media Opportunities
Link To Us
Shop
Feedback
Staff
 		POPULAR AREAS
Family FunBook
Forums
Kid's Crafts
Coloring Pages
Household Hints & Tips
Photo Gallery
Blogs
e-Cards
Reminder Service

Contact Us | Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use/Disclaimer

Copyright © 1997-2012 FamilyCorner.com FamilyCorner.com® is a registered trademark of FamilyCorner.com, an Internet Brands Company