Fighting Summer Heat New York NY

(NC)—We've all been there before, glaring at each other across the thermostat dial. Each individual in the house has an ideal temperature; one prefers a wall of desert-like heat while another is happy to chill in teeth-chattering conditions. We each know which side we fall on in our own thermo-war at home, but is there a happy medium? The answer is 'yes'.

Dave Walton, director of home ideas at Direct Energy, has a few suggestions for those expecting thermostat-wars in their homes this summer.

Dress down. Before dropping the temperature on the thermostat, consider dropping a layer of clothing instead. Short sleeves, shorts and breathable fabrics are a much cheaper option to turning up the A/C.

Stop temperature tampering. A programmable thermostat can be set to increase the temperature slightly overnight, when outdoor temperatures are lower. Once the thermostat is set, other members of the household may not be as tempted to tamper with the temperature. Tip: setting the temperature above 25 degrees will help save on energy costs, while every degree below 25 degrees will add an extra three to five per cent to your energy bill.

Blow off hot air. Before turning up the A/C, turn on your floor and ceiling fans first. They are an efficient means to bringing down the temperature on your thermostat war. In the summer, ceiling fan blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction to create a cooling wind.

More information on this topic is available online at www.directenergy.com or call 1-888-334-8221.

- News Canada