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Health & Fitness

Cut Your Electric Bills AND Stay Cool This Summer

Can you really lower your electric bills by running a fan along with the air conditioning? 

Most people are surprised to learn that by turning a fan on along with the air conditioning they can actually save on their electric bills. Why would two appliances be cheaper than one? 

As with most things, it’s not so much what you do as how you do it. If you raise your air conditioning’s thermostat by four degrees Fahrenheit while running a ceiling fan to make a room feel colder by four degrees, this setup will actually produce a cost savings, according to an article published by the University of Florida IFAS Extension. 

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According to the Extension, the fans do not actually cool the room. Instead they work by providing a breeze to cool the people in the room. For that reason, fans should be turned off when the room is unoccupied. 

To make sure your fan is running at its most efficient, be sure that the fan is an appropriate size for the room. The American Lighting Association suggests a small fan (29 to 36 inches) for rooms up to 75 square feet, a medium fan (36 to 42 inches) for rooms to 144 square feet, and a large fan (50 to 54 inches) for rooms around 255 square feet. 

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For extra savings, select a fan with the Energy Star label. These fans have been rated as about 50% more efficient than standard fans. 

Other tips from the IFAS Extension on the Home Energy Conservation page include cleaning or changing air conditioning filters once a month, checking to be sure your home is properly insulated and ventilated, weather-stripping cracks and openings around windows and doors, and installing a programmable thermostat on the air conditioner if you don’t already have one. 

The University of Florida IFAS Extension also offers some general suggestions on how Floridians can stay cool during the summer. Some of these include performing strenuous activities when it is cooler outdoors during the early or later times of day, dressing in lightweight, light-colored clothes, drinking plenty of water to stay cool, and spending at least some time each day in air conditioned environments. 

The Extension also reminds us to never leave children or pets in a parked car because of the dangerous temperatures within vehicles. 

Meantime, come and visit with representatives from the Sustainable Floridians Program this summer at the Tampa Bay Home Show on July 19 and 20 in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. We will have a variety of printed materials about such topics as saving energy and recycling and will be delighted to answer any questions you have on sustainability topics.

 

 

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