Reduce Utility Bills

This uses some electricity, but it is low cost and portable. Running a fun is much less expensive than running a cooler. This will provide relief in the summer for those with evap coolers once the monsoons hit.

I want to make one of these for my back room that has no vents. I will have a fan in the window that will pull the hot air out of the room. I was thinking about getting a used cooler like they fill with drinks, that is shape similarly. This will also allow the water to be drained out and it could be recycled by refreezing. Plus, I don’t want a Styrofoam cooler full of ice and water breaking! I would start with ice cubes to get things melting then add large pieces of ice that I can freeze in a bowl or plastic bottle with the top cut off. The larger pieces of ice will melt slower.

I started getting what I need to make my own air conditioner like in the video. The initial cost will be less than a window air conditioner. It will have the following advantages:

• Portable to any room
• Electricity use will be a fraction running an air conditioner
• No mold, allergens, or anything else will be blown throughout the room

I don’t have the cooler yet, but got the other parts. So far here is my investment:

• Aquarium submersible pump $19.35
• Zip ties $1.97
• Repair tape $4.64 (I’ll use this to connect the copper tubing to the rubber tubing on the pump)
• Tube cutter $3.5
• Copper tubing $13.67
• 9 inch fan $12.97

I shopped at Wal-Mart. I chose new because we have long hot summers here and I want to make sure it can withstand the stress of running long. Getting any of the items used of course would cut down the cost. I got a fan without a solid bottom so that I could attach it more easily to the cooler. I also choose a fan with a metal cage so that it will hold up with the copper tubing attached. If I want I can always spray paint the cage and tubing to match!

I’m going to check out yard sales for a used cooler. Since I will be cutting into it, I don’t want to cut into a new one. Once I get everything ready, if I haven’t gotten a cooler yet, I will test in using a bucket. It won’t keep the ice and water cold for long, but it will give me an idea on the effectiveness.

Solar powered evaporative coolers and air conditioners are the way to stay cool without high bills. If you don’t have the money now, save for one or look into building one yourself.

Here are videos of ways to cool the house using abundant and free solar power.

This uses some electricity, but could probably be hooked up to a solar power source. This is compact and portable for outdoor use.