Beating the heat doesn’t require lots of cool cash

Beating Iowa’s high temperatures this summer doesn’t have to take a pile of money. An expert at the Iowa Energy Center at Iowa State University says there are some simple things you can do to your home to keep heat out. Norm Olson says pulling your curtains or shades can make a big difference.He says solar heat accounts for about 50-percent of the warmth that enters your home. In the winter you try to keep out the cold air, and in the summer Olson says you need to keep out warm drafts.You should check all your door and window seals to be sure there isn’t any warm air leaking in. Olson says you can set up fans in your house, but they may do more harm than good as their motors generate heat. He says they can make you feel cooler if you site right in front of them.In some cases, Olson says replacing your old air conditioner with a new unit may save you some money.If you plan on being in your home for a long time — Olson says planting a tree will eventually give you shade that will keep things cool.