Open Windows on Summer Nights to Save Energy

During the historic derecho storm that smashed through Ohio in late June 2014, many homeowners went without power for as long as two weeks. During that time, the smart ones learned how to extend the coolness of night into the next morning, thereby delaying the brutal daytime heat’s intrusion into the home.

Believe it or not, this strategy can be effective whether you’re in the midst of a power outage or not.

Provided outside temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-70s or below, and humidity isn’t excessively high, go ahead and open up the house before going to bed. If household security allows it and you have screens, open both windows and sliding doors.

Eventually, as the night progresses, the cool air will circulate throughout your house, and when morning arrives, all the heat will be gone.

Monitor morning temps

However, to make this work, you’ll want to monitor the temperatures in the morning, and as soon as the outside temperature rises above the inside temperature, close up the house.

Provided your home is well insulated and you keep curtains and shades drawn against the sun, the cool night-time air should keep your home reasonably comfortable well into the morning.

But don’t forget to close up the house before it gets hot, since the warming air outside will overcome any benefits you might get from breezes coming through the windows.

This strategy works even if you have AC

While the night-time window-opening routine is essential in the midst of a summer power outage, it also can deliver benefits when your home still has power and the AC is working fine.

The benefit? You can turn the AC off through the night and morning, instead exploiting the ready availability of cool outside nighttime air. By giving your AC a break, you pay lower energy bills and reduce the workload and stress on your air conditioner.

This way, you might even avoid experiencing a broken AC unit requiring a professional Cincinnati air conditioning repair. Give this strategy a boost by using ceiling fans to make the house feel cooler in the morning, too.

It’s amazing how so few people understand this basic rule where household windows are concerned. When the outside temps rise higher than the indoor temps during the hot season, it makes no sense to leave windows open, unless there’s a nice breeze blowing in.