{"id":3367,"date":"2017-08-24T13:29:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T17:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myenergymonster.com\/ma\/?p=3367"},"modified":"2023-01-14T01:57:38","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T01:57:38","slug":"ac-alternatives-environmentally-friendly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/ac-alternatives-environmentally-friendly\/","title":{"rendered":"AC Alternatives for the Environmentally Friendly"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ac<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, air conditioning<\/span> has allowed people across the globe some much-needed relief from the heat<\/span>. With it, we\u2019re able to live in hotter regions comfortably, can enjoy full-length movies at the theater during hot summer nights, and are able to drive to and from work without having to pack a daily change of clothing. \u00a0Modern cooling<\/span> conveniences may have put Air Conditioning<\/span> alternatives at the back of our minds, but it wasn\u2019t too long ago that our ancestors had to rely on natural, more energy<\/span>-efficient methods to keep cool.<\/p>\n

Air conditioning<\/span> became popular in the 1950s after World War II. Many of our parents and grandparents can reminisce over the times they spent rolling down the windows and taking nighttime drives to cool off before bedtime. While our kin may not have had the conveniences of a home with a\u00a0 Central Air Conditioner<\/span> that many of us have today, they might have been on to something. Air Conditioning<\/span> alternatives aren\u2019t just nostalgic\u2013 they\u2019re good for the environment. Let\u2019s take a look at some of the hidden energy costs<\/span> behind using\u2013 and abusing\u2013 air conditioning<\/span>, and some throwback tips to help us all chill out.<\/p>\n

The Hidden Energy Costs<\/span> Behind Air Conditioning<\/span><\/h2>\n

Modern conveniences aside, the most notable cost behind air conditioning<\/span> is the impact that it can have on the environment. When we crank up the air conditioning<\/span> before leaving our homes for the day, we\u2019re running the risk of abusing a privilege that our ancestors didn\u2019t have the chance to use. Like anything else we plug into our wall outlets, our air conditioners are no exception: they draw a lot of power and thereby can have a significant impact on the carbon footprint that we each contribute to the environment.<\/p>\n

Combine this with the output of emissions from every home, school, and commercial building<\/span> in each of our towns, and the collective carbon footprint that we emit as a society is pretty high. According to Salon magazine, up until 2016 electricity was the largest contributor to pollution across the United States. We\u2019re happy to report that this same article states that our total\u00a0carbon emissions have dropped 1.7 percent<\/a>\u00a0over the past year, which is something we can all get excited about.<\/p>\n

The final cost is one that is oftentimes forgotten about in conversations about energy consumption<\/span>: the impact of carbon emissions on our health. While we aren\u2019t trying to assert that air conditioning<\/span> is inherently bad for us, increased amounts of carbon output in our environments can have a negative impact on our overall physical well-being. Efficient cooling<\/span> practices should at least be observed when using Air Conditioning<\/span>. Research indicates that conditions such as arthritis and sinus problems can become worse when exposed to artificial cooling<\/span>. With most things, moderation is key. You may find that your body is telling you to turn off the air conditioner<\/span> in favor of ac alternatives on warm or temperate days.<\/p>\n

Alternatives to Air Conditioning<\/span>\u00a0to Keep You Cool as A Cucumber<\/h3>\n

AC alternatives can help us to stay healthy, live green, and stay cool. Here are a few suggestions that each of us can practice helping drive down our overall use of air conditioning<\/span>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Use fans<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Don\u2019t ignore the fan in favor of the air conditioner<\/span>! Think about your energy bill<\/span>! Fans circulate air, which is great for cooling<\/span> the home. Use them creatively to create a breeze in a room. And if you absolutely must turn on the air conditioner<\/span>, fans can take some of the load off the AC.<\/li>\n
  2. Open windows<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 You want to keep cool air in your home and warm air out. Opening the windows during the heat<\/span> of the day might not do much to help, but you can use your windows strategically. Another way you can help keep that energy bill<\/span> lower, let mother nature help out. Open them at night to allow cool air to come into your home, then close them in the morning to keep that hot air out!<\/li>\n
  3. Use cooler<\/span> appliances<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Using appliances that heat<\/span> up inside your house<\/span> is a guaranteed way to trap warm air inside! Try grilling outside or using a crockpot rather than using the stove or oven.<\/li>\n
  4. Cool from the inside out<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 During a hot summer day<\/span>, it\u2019s easy to blame your misery on outside forces, but you can combat the hot summer day<\/span> from inside your body. Stay hydrated with lots of water<\/span>. Want to make cooling<\/span> down more fun? Summer is the perfect time for popsicles!<\/li>\n
  5. Hydronic Cooling<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Instead of cooling<\/span> the air in your home, this type of cooling<\/span> system cools surfaces such as walls and floors. It works by running cold water<\/span> through pipes in your home. Hydronics require less energy<\/span> than air conditioners, and the effects are long-lasting.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Without a doubt, air conditioning has allowed people across the globe some much-needed relief from the heat. With it, we\u2019re able to live in hotter regions comfortably, can enjoy full-length movies at the theater during hot summer nights, and are able to drive to and from work without having to pack a daily change of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":5,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,36],"tags":[27,52,22,45],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3367"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3367"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10091,"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3367\/revisions\/10091"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattsonhomesolutions.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

    AC alternatives are only one of the many ways each of us can pitch in to conserve the environment. Are you are looking for other ways to save energy<\/span> and help the planet? Schedule a home energy<\/span> assessment<\/a>\u00a0with Wattson Home<\/span> Solutions. We\u2019ll help you address areas of energy<\/span> inefficiency in your home, including\u00a0efficient ductless mini splits<\/a>, \u00a0so you can start saving energy<\/span> and save money right away!<\/p>\n