Ever since I started paying for my own costs of heating and cooling, I made two very strict rules. First, no air conditioning usage until after June 1st. Second, no furnace usage until after October 1st. I have stuck by these rules, even if it meant sleeping naked with an ice pack on my neck or wearing two pairs of pajamas to bed. I don't know how much money it has saved me, but it feels like my own little way to beat the energy companies.
A couple of nights ago, I broke the first rule. I have an older brick home that retains heat very well. Therefore, the upstairs is always hotter on warm days. I noticed it was stuffy when I put my son to bed, but thought the breeze from the windows and ceiling fans would cool it off enough. I was wrong. When I checked on him before I went to bed, he was essentially sleeping in a puddle of his own sweat. I felt so bad, I went right back downstairs and turned on the air conditioner. Needless to say, we all slept much better that night.
Oh, the sacrifices we make for our children.
We don't actually have a rule governing the thermostat, but everytime my husband has mentioned it being hot and hinting about turning on the air, I say "Cilco bill" and it silences him instantly.
ReplyDeleteI have had the air on in my office, though, because it has no "openable" windows and gets hot (plus I don't pay the bill here!).