By Tanya Turner

Do you know that, in summer, the average American family pays about 40% of their energy bill for air conditioning of the house? But it doesn’t have to be this way, Use these simple tips to help you keep your house cool and significantly reduce your energy bills during the hot months.

1. If you need to cool only one room, don’t use your central air conditioning. Invest in a portable air conditioner, instead. Modern portable units have a very high energy efficiency rating, so it will cool your room effectively and save you a lot.

2. Install mini-blinds or white window shades. Mini-blinds can be very effective and can reduce heat gain from direct sunlight by 40-50 percent. You can also hang bamboo shades or tightly woven screens outside your windows. This will stop up to 80 percent of the sun’s heat from getting through your windows.

3. Keep all windows closed during the day. At night you can open them for ventilation and switch on a fan instead of an air conditioner.

4. If you are using a mini split air conditioner, make sure that the outside compressor is well shaded. However, trees and shrubs shouldn’t be planted right next to it; it needs some room for air flow.

5. It is best to clean your air conditioner filter at least once a month. Dust build-ups can significantly reduce air flow.

6. When buying an air conditioner unit, make sure that it is the right size for your room. A unit that is too small will not cool your room effectively, and an A/C that is too large will consume much more energy than necessary. See recommendations for proper air conditioner sizes for your room.

7. If you use central air conditioning, seal all A/C ducts. Insulate ducts that run through rooms that don’t need cooling, like the basement or the attic.

8. If your air conditioner is old, consider replacing it with a modern high efficiency unit. Older A/C systems have a SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) of only 6 or 7, while the best air conditioners on the market today offer SEER as high as 13. That means that it will consume almost 50% less energy.

9. Cooking, drying cloth or dishwashing generates a lot of heat. Try to delay these activities until the evening, when it gets cooler.

Most people just switch their air conditioners on and set the desired temperature. This will cool your room, of course, but it will cost you, too. Furthermore, excessive energy consumption is not environmentally friendly, so by following our simple advice you could not only save on your bills, but you could also help to reduce pollution in your area.

About the Author: Visit

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for tips on getting the best room air conditioner, price comparison and customer reviews of air conditioners.

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How hearing loss can be solved with right ear instruments

by

kenneth buford

In the past week, we began with a 2 part series on hearing loss and noise pollution. This has become the third pollution quandary for many individuals. Persons laboring for long hours in environments that have loud and continuous noise is extremely likely to have either partial or total hearing loss. Machines such as tractors operators that need to be used for long periods of time are the usual culprits. Hearing problems come in after one is exposed to noisy machines that result to ringing in the ears.

But based on the study conducted by industrial hygienists, permanent hearing damage is not likely among those who only get minimal exposure to loud situations such as factory workers. When one manages to keep motorized equipment in mint condition, they will be able to eradicate the harm within the noise of the engine. The muffler that goes wrong must be replaced with a type that has been specified. It is best to ensure that the exhaust pipe is distant from the operator and frequently opens up. An exhaust stack that ends below the top of a cab on tractor or combine is almost certain to cause noise trouble even if muffled.

But then based on a research done through a university’s effort, adding a cab to the test tractor added more to the sound, instead of minimizing it. Putting more insulation to the interior of a conventional tractor cab will truly reduce sound levels significantly. A one inch fiberglass over all metal surfaces that includes the roof area is enough insulation. Double insulating layers were placed on the floor of the cab, only to be followed by the original rubber floor mat afterward.

However, using just any insulating tool might not work. Acoustic property is found to be much better in some materials than in others. One can now easily find sound proofing material kits in the marketplace. With such items, the levels of sound found within existing cabs can be enhanced.

When within fixed working locations, engines, air compressors and other noisy equipment should be moved into a different area, away from the worker. But if the relocation is impossible, the next move should be rotating duties so that not a single person is exposed for more that the allowable time of being in a noisy area and this will allow them to recuperate from the racket as well.

Insulating the workers from the din can be achieved with the use of sound deadening things. But, in most instances, it will be necessary for the worker to protect his ears from the sound around. It can be achieved by way of car stuffing, ear plugs and ear muffs.

Being near large turbocharged engines or when staying in jet airports that are laden with high pitched sounds, ear muffs are the preferred form of protection. Most of the different muff styles are comfy if the fitting is right. But it would be a must that they fit snugly in the ear if they were to create good results. Your hearing does not get diminished as you listen to what’s happening around your equipment. By shutting out loud noise, quieter sounds can flow in better.

Like muffs, noise control ear plugs are very economical, effective and easy to carry around. But be sure that they are fitted by either a doctor or a nurse who can size them in order to maintain their effectiveness and comfort. You will hardly feel them there after the first few minutes of being bothered that it is not natural at all. You can get different sizes for different workers for these are inexpensive.

Ear plugs that are only good for swimming cannot really be used to control sound. They will refuse this offer. Cotton balls in the war is definitely not a good way to control sound.

However, there are substances available from which disposable ear plugs can be made. This is known in another term, Swedish wool. You are up for big trouble when working with noisy machinery without a single form of hearing protection. In the end, you will regret never purchasing any ear protection instruments which are less expensive than what you have to shell out for the many hearing aids and medical treatments you have to go through.

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