How do you stay cool in the summer without racking up a $450.00 electricity bill?

Answer 1

$450 electic bill?? Good grief, and I thought mine was bad!

I live in Idaho, 4700 feet, high mountain desert. It's been in the high 90's for about 6 weeks now.

We live on a farm, and run the pump to irregate the pastures off the household electric. Our power bill is still only $120 a month.

Our house is 3600 sq ft. We have tripple insulation in the atic. Our roof is a white metal roof, so it reflects the sun back, instead of soaking up the heat.

We use only ceiling fans, and box fans to cool the house. At night, about three hours after sunset, we open the windows to allow as much cool air as possible into the house. In the morning, I shut the windows, before the sun is very high up, while the outside air is still cool.

That traps as much cool air in the house as possible.

We take cool showers right before going to bed. We eat lighter meals, which are easier to digest.

We wear wide brimed hats outside, and place a bandana around our necks that has been soaked in water. We drink plenty of cold water, and an electorlite mixture, if we have been in the sun too long.

Cotton, or silk clothes only during the summer. I work in sandles as much as possible, so I can hose my feet off, and cool myself off.

I'm still boggled at the thought of $450 electric bills. Our pump has been running 24/7 now for several months. Our $120 electric bill helps produce food for other, and ourselves.

The short periods between growing season and winter, our electric bill drops to $50.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Answer 2

I had the same problem, and i cut my electric bill by **75%** just but not using the AC. For a really good guide on how to save money check out: http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/cooling.html

Some quick tips

- Turn off the AC when you're no home
- Clean your filter
- Make sure the house is well insulated
- Raise the temperature on your thermostat
- Test your ducts for leaks

Answer 3

You can buy a 5000 BTU window ac unit at wal-mart for 100.00. The remaining 900.00 will be far more than enough to pay the difference added onto the electric bill for 2 years.

Answer 4

You need a well insulated house and a new, energy efficient air conditioner. You also need to keep the filters clean, set the thermostat a little higher (I set mine at 78F) and use ceiling fans to create a gentle draft to make the room feel several degrees cooler than it really is. I do all this in my rather large house( 3200 square feet) in a hot area (Texas) on "only" about $250 per month.

Answer 5

We open up the house in the early morning, and draw in the cool air with strategically placed box fans. Once the interior temps meet the exterior, we button up the house for the day.

Closing drapes, covering south face and west facing windows with exterior bamboo shades, drinking plenty of fluids and running oscillating fans will also help keep you cooler.

Here's a link for how you can save energy and lower your summer energy costs:

Answer 6

Hang out at the local mall or large department store all day! j/k - what the other guy said about Texas, also stay hydrated, splashing some cool water or ice cubes on your wrists really helps

Answer 7

Be like nature, acclimate yourself to the changing weather conditions. Only for the last few decades has Western society relied on A/C to accommodate a weakness for personal comfort.

Answer 8

Go play in a fountain.

Buy a smaller house.

Avoid sex and other activities that may overheat you.

Personally I'd come up with the money and cut other expenses.

Answer 9

Plug in my A/C unit to the neighbors outside electrical outlet.

That cuts my bill in half!

Answer 10

It really matters where you live. One option would be to keep hydrated,(drink 8 glasses of water each day), or you could just buy one of those portable fans.