And...curtain

Closing your curtains will keep nosy neighbors out and your electric bill low.

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PlentyMag.com

Thu, Apr 23 2009 at 2:28 PM

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Energy Efficiency

BE GREEN, SAVE GREEN: This summer, make sure to close those curtains.

Peeping tom neighbors and Saturday morning hangovers are both good reasons to let the drapes down on a sunny summer day. There is, however, another, far better reason for a curtain call in the steamy months. According to the Department of Energy, a sun-filled window can make your air conditioner work two to three times harder.

It goes without saying that you already turn the AC off whenever you’re not home, but direct sunlight streaming in all day will still mean money down the drain, and pounds of CO₂ dumped needlessly into the air.

You may have heard that the polar bears are having a tough time of it lately? Have a heart—drop the drapes.

Story by Tobin Hack. This article originally appeared in Plenty in August 2007.