Keep Cool: Energy Efficient Cooling Tips for Your Home

Posted on July 16, 2024

It’s that time of the year when the heat feels unbearable and the air feels prickly. Sure, blasting the air conditioner feels nice, but there is a way to stay cool and be kind to the planet simultaneously. Here are some practical yet eco-friendly tips to beat that blistering Calgary heat!

1. Nighttime Cooling
   During cool evenings, take advantage of the outdoor air! Keep your windows open at night to cool your home, then shut them and draw your blinds/curtains during the day to trap the cool air inside. Such a simple practice can allow you to not heavily rely on air conditioning, reducing energy consumption which is overall better for the environment.

2. Avoid All Things Hot!
   One of the hottest items in your home is the oven. You especially want to avoid using it while the sun is up. To keep your space cooler, opt to grill outside on a gas grill. If possible, choose a grill with a natural gas option. By minimizing your oven use, you'll not only keep your kitchen cooler but also lower your home's overall temperature.

3. Make Those Fans Work!
   Portable fans are a versatile and energy-efficient way to keep your home cool during the hot Calgary summer. Place them strategically in windows or doorways to draw in cooler air from outside and expel hotter air. For an extra cooling effect, place a bowl of ice in front of your fan, allowing the air to blow across the bowl. This will chill the air as it passes over the ice, helping to cool your home even more. If you don’t have ice, a bowl of ice cream works too—a little sweet treat as you try to cool yourself down!

4. Add a Little More Greenery!
   Plant some trees or shrubs around your home! By strategically placing greenery, you can block the sun’s intense rays and provide natural shade, which helps to lower the overall temperature around your home. The west and south sides tend to get the most intense sunlight, so focus on planting your trees and shrubs there. Besides providing shade and cooling your home, these plants can also improve outdoor air quality and create a pleasant outdoor environment. Wouldn’t it be cute to have a little garden around your home?

5. Pull Those Appliance Plugs!
   Apart from the sun, plugged appliances and electronics are one way your home generates heat. Even when not in use, plugged appliances and electronics continue to consume energy and emit heat. Unplugging them not only saves you electricity, but it also keeps your living space cooler.

6. Switch Your Lightbulbs!
   Switching over to energy-efficient LED light bulbs is a great way to not only save energy but also keep your home cool. Traditional incandescent bulbs tend to produce a lot of heat and use more energy than LED light bulbs. A simple change such as this can not only lower your electricity bill but also keep your home much cooler during these hot summers.

7. If You Really Have to Keep It Chill…
   Have a bowl of ice cream! Just kidding. Switch over to an energy-efficient air conditioner. Look out for air conditioners with an Energy Star certification. Set the air conditioner to a comfortable, yet efficient temperature, such as 24-25°C. This not only saves on utility bills but also helps protect the planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cooling your home during the hotter months.

Want to know more? 

Would you like to learn more about energy efficiency? Check out our Energy Efficient Futures Program. We conduct free educational workshops where you can get all the information you need in one place! You can also get an energy effiency kit with all the tools you need to start your energy effiency journey. 

Author: 

Aira Dela Rosa 

Communication Teams Volunteer

Green Calgary