News Release

June 21, 2001

Cool 20 Ideas for Keeping Your Cool This Summer

PNM NEWS News releases Financial news Contact PNM

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Susan Sponar Telephone: (505) 241-2768

Albuquerque: The mercury may be rising, but that doesn't mean your energy consumption has to. PNM, Pubic Service Company of New Mexico, suggests 20 easy ways to keep your cool this summer without losing control of your energy bill:

1. Keep your air-conditioner clean and in good working order. This can mean changing swamp cooler pads when necessary.
2. Install and use ceiling fans. Remember to set the blades in the summertime so the air blows downward (the leading edge of the blade will be pointing up).
3. Match the size of the fan to the size of the room. A 12' x 12' room can use a 36- or 42-inch fan. For rooms up to 12' x 18', a 48- or 52-inch fan is appropriate.
4. Close heating-only air duct registers, fireplace dampers and doorways to basements.
5. Keep doors to unused rooms closed.
6. Complete tasks that may generate heat (cooking, cleaning, laundry) in the early morning or evening.
7. Use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans midday to get rid of heat and humidity.
8. Open windows during cool evening hours and let the outside air --rather than your air conditioner-- cool your home.
9. Use the low speed on your evaporative cooler whenever possible. It uses significantly less energy than higher speeds.
10. Close blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house.
11. Use trees, trellises or awnings to block the sun and help cool the exterior of your house.
12. Set your thermostat as high as comfort permits, so that your air conditioner doesn't have to work so hard.
13. Properly insulate and ventilate your attic, allowing warm air to escape, but not into the house.
14. Turn off your air conditioner when you are away. Install a programmable thermostat that can turn on the air conditioner shortly before you get home.
15. Don't put appliances that generate heat, like lamps and television sets, under your wall-mounted cooling thermostat. The heat rising from them can cause the thermostat to read a temperature higher than the actual room temperature, resulting in overcooling the entire house.
16. With evaporative coolers, crack open windows in rooms where you want cool air to flow.
17. Weather-strip windows and doors. This can keep cool air in during the summer and prevent escape of warmed air in the winter.
18. Hang clothes out on the line to dry.
19. Turn off all lights and appliances - including the TV - when not in use.
20. Use a microwave or outdoor grill for cooking when possible.