Going Green: Tip - Save Energy and Money on Summer A/C

Tom Ochsner, of Thermal Vision Home Energy Audits, offers these tips to help you save energy and money this summer:

1. Clean the leaves out of the air conditioner outside unit.

2. Spray a mild soap solution on the unit and hose it off to remove dirt from the fins too.

3. Instead of using costly AC, create a natural convection current to cool your house - open the top windows on the upper level sunny side or down wind side of the house. Open the bottom windows on the lowest level of the house on the shady or upwind side of the house.

4. Reduce air infiltration - the basement foundation can be a huge source of air infiltration. If you see spider webs on the top of your basement walls you probably have openings. Seal the sill plate/rim joist area with caulk or expanding spray foam to reduce air leakage and keep out ants and spiders.