At Home with Lisa: Use fans before turning on your AC

Hopefully it’s going to start feeling like summer soon. When that happens, I’m ready. I just got a new box fan.

Fans are more energy efficient than air conditioners. We use air conditioners sparingly in our house, mostly when the temperatures climb into the 90s.

But I like fans. They circulate the air to create a breeze and that helps you feel cooler. When you feel cooler, you can raise the temperature on your thermostat a couple of degrees.

You can find a big box fan at the department store starting for around $20. We also turn on the ceiling fan to keep the air moving.

My new box fan has another benefit, too. I’ve kept the house sealed up throughout the winter, trying to keep the heat inside. I’ve also raised the humidity a bit, which helps me feel warmer. I’ve done this by opening the bathroom door after a steamy shower, slow simmering soups on the stove and placing vases of water around the house. Now that winter is over, I need to lower that humidity by opening windows and turning on the fans. You want to keep the humidity in the house from anywhere between 30 and 50%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Avista’s website has plenty of tips to keep your house cool this summer.

Lisa, an Avista customer, bought her 1910 house because she loved the old-world character, some of which doesn’t make her house very energy efficient. Lisa is sharing her experience on taking some simple do-it-yourself improvements to inspire others to do the same. You’ll find her stories right here every Tuesday morning.


Avista’s website has plenty of tips to keep your house cool this summer.

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Tags:

  1. At Home with Lisa
  2. Energy Saving

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