Reduce internal heat from appliances and lighting

Appliances, cooking, and incandescent lighting add significant heat to indoor spaces. Shifting when and how you use them can noticeably lower room temperatures during summer.

How to Do It

1. Cook without the oven: Grill outdoors, use a microwave or slow cooker, or prepare cold meals during peak afternoon heat. An oven can raise kitchen temperature by 10°F or more.
2. Run heat-producing appliances at night: Dishwashers, clothes dryers, and washing machines all generate heat. Schedule them for cooler evening or early morning hours.
3. Switch to LED bulbs: Incandescent bulbs convert 90% of their energy to heat. LEDs run far cooler and use a fraction of the electricity.
4. Power down idle electronics: TVs, computers, and game consoles generate heat even in standby. Unplug them or use a power strip you can switch off.

Tips

• A single incandescent bulb adds roughly the same heat as a small space heater over time
• Pressure cookers and air fryers produce far less ambient heat than a conventional oven
• Line-drying clothes instead of using the dryer eliminates a major heat source