A recent post on Grist.org led me to an article in The Independent on air conditioning that contains some truly staggering figures on just how much the United States is paying in energy to keep itself cool. According to The Independent, “air conditioning guzzles 15 per cent of total American energy consumption…using the same amount of fossil fuel as the whole of Africa employs for all its energy needs.” This comparison might be a bit of a stretch; the Energy Information Administration suggests that total U.S. air-conditioner energy consumption for homes is around 258 billion kWh, quite a bit less than the electricity consumption of Africa (515 billion kWh) but pretty close to all electricity consumed in a year by the good people of Spain (262 billion kWh).

I’ve blogged before about ways to save energy and cut back on your air conditioner use in the summer, but faced with energy consumption numbers like that, perhaps some additional tips are in order. Ideally, of course, we’d all shut off our air conditioners, roll up our sleeves, and get used to being a little sweaty. But I grew up in the south, and I know that the dog days of summer can melt the best intentions of even the most dedicated energy geek and send them scrambling for air conditioned bliss. So, consider these suggestions the next time the mercury rises:

· Install a whole house fan. Whole house fans work by pulling in cooler, outside air from open windows and exhausting hot air through the attic. Although these fans can make a difference in almost any climate, they work especially well in areas where daytime temperatures soar, but evenings tend to be relatively mild. Switching off the a/c, opening a few windows, and turning on the whole house fan once cooler evening temperatures arrive can help draw that cool air into your home while sucking out the hot air that’s gathered in your attic during the day.

· Consider a room air conditioner. Sometimes you don’t need to cool the whole house; at night, cooling only your bedroom might do the trick. Room air conditioners, although less efficient that some whole house cooling systems, typically use less overall electricity and can be handy for more targeted cooling.

· Keep your ducts sealed and critter free. Even if you’ve had your ducts recently sealed, you should inspect them for problems at least once a year. Seals fail, and local wildlife can be as wily as Mr. Wile E. Coyote himself in finding ways to wreak havoc in your ducts. Regular inspections will ensure that your that all that cooled air is staying where it belongs – inside your home.

Image: Jonas Bengtsson via Flickr

Amy Foster Parish is on staff with the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. In her spare time, she enjoys secretly changing the settings on her host’s programmable thermostat at dinner parties.