Q: My husband thinks you get better cooling and airflow if you leave some windows open while running the air conditioning. He leaves two windows open on the second floor of our house 2 or 3 inches.
One of the windows is above the air conditioning unit. I think it is inefficient and wasteful.
A: It's not wise.
"Operating the air conditioner with the window open negates the dehumidification that the AC would be providing," said Phil Smith, energy specialist with the Minnesota Department of Energy Security.
"The Dehumidification of air is one of the key elements to the comfort we get in air conditioning."
In the situation you describe, the open window above the compressor and coils could serve as a "short circuit," permitting heat you have just removed to simply blow back in, he added.
Close the windows when using air conditioning. But be mindful of outdoor conditions so you can turn off the AC and open your windows when the weather permits.
Other home-cooling tips from the Department of Energy Security:
Run the dishwasher at night, turn off lights when not needed, and use bath and kitchen fans to exhaust hot, moist air from bathing and cooking to the outside.
- Use a ceiling fan. Although ceilings fan don't cool a house, they help people feel cool by moving air over them. Energy Star-qualified ceiling fans have optimized fan blades and motors; those with qualified light kits are 50 percent more energy-efficient than standard models.
- If you use window fans, place them on the cool side of the house, blowing inward. Fans blowing to the outside can depressurize a house, creating dangerous back-drafting problems with water heaters or other combustion appliances. Attic fans and whole house fans are not recommended for the same reason.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
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