Comments on: Efficient Summertime Room-Cooling Products

By: Puji

Puji — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 18:15:10 +0000

Get a programmable thsoaretmt, and have it turn up to around 80 while you are out, and down to 75 at the lowest when you are at home. That way you are keeping the house from overheating–say it’s 100 outside, but not wasting as much energy. The energy needed to get from 80 to 75, which is usually plenty cool, is far less than from 100 to 75.Most people find 70 or 71 too chilly–unless you have a two story house and the second floor stays hotter.Be sure to keep your windows covered on hot days too. Solar heat coming through the glass can waste a lot of energy.

By: web master

web master — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:08:01 +0000

In reply to Robbin. I don't see your email in our database...please advise

By: Robbin

Robbin — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 16:37:26 +0000

When I originally commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a comment
is added I receive 4 emails with the same comment.
There has to be a means you are able to remove me from that service?
Thank you!

By: J Burton

J Burton — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:12:50 +0000

My wife and I have a large family/dining/kitchen room where we spend most of our time. Last year I found a high efficiency window unit on clearance at the end of the season and installed it this spring for this large room. We keep the rest of the house at 78 during the day and use the window unit and fan to lower the temperature in this one room. So far it is working quite well. Also of note, we have been insulating the floor in this room (the attic insulation is more than sufficient) to hold the heat and cool better. I am hoping to keep our utility bills under $100 (electric everything in our house). For a 30 year old house, not too shabby on a minimal investment.

By: Sam Streubel

Sam Streubel — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:03:51 +0000

For roughly the same price as the Unistar 4 in 1 (an inexpensive version of the Cool Surge) you can purchase the Sunpentown SF-608R which doesn't use ice packs, has a water capacity of 10 litres and throws more air.

By: Andrewthion

Andrewthion — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:31:47 +0000

Absolutely correct about the futility of using ice packs in the swamp cooler for the entire home, although there is an arguement for more effectively cooling a single room more quickly (say during the peak heat hours.)

By the same logic however, I think we’re overlooking that one of the most effective ways to reduce home temperature is to increase the efficiency of the refrigerators and freezers. In particular a chest fridge and a smaller volume of net refridgerated space would be very low-hanging fruit.

Shutters and awnings are also extremely effective, although the honeycomb blinds are good as well, it will always be better to block the sun closer to the sun.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:19:45 +0000

I got all excited about the swamp cooler until I read that it wouldn’t work in humid conditions. I live in a high humidity area, so I guess I will stick with the A/C.

By: Leaping Lemur

Leaping Lemur — Sat, 15 May 2010 21:47:10 +0000

Ice packs in a swamp cooler? Silly and inefficient if you’re freezing the icepacks in your home freezer. It just wastes electricity, and makes your house even warmer.

The heat absorbed by the icepack is exactly offset by the additional heat given off by the condenser coils on your refrigerator, so you get no net benefit. Not only that, the compressor on your refrigerator gives off another 1 BTU for every 3 BTU of heat it moves (exact value depends on your refrigerator’s efficiency), so you’re spending money on electricity to HEAT your house instead of cool it.

Swamp coolers are a great idea, but skip the icepacks.