Issues → July/August 2007 → Home & Garden →

Real Solutions: Cooling Fans, Drafty Windows, Daylilies

Home and garden solutions from the experts

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I don't want the expense or noise of an air conditioner, and I need to cool the house only on occasion. What's the best alternative? -- D.V., Norwalk, CT

The most efficient option is a whole-house fan. Here's the way it works: The fan pulls cool air from outdoors and moves it throughout the house, pushing warm air out through the attic. On the hottest days, turn the fan on in the morning and evening (the coolest times of a summer day, when the temperature outside is lower than inside the house). This type of fan can keep an entire house comfortable on the amount of electricity it takes for an air conditioner to cool only one room.

In addition to saving you money, a whole-house fan lets you systematically cool specific rooms. Just open the windows first to pull a greater proportion of cool air through, and close the windows partially or fully in low-priority areas.

Determining the correct fan (24- to 36-inch diameter) for your space is as simple as figuring the square footage of living space and matching it to the manufacturer's size recommendation. Note that if you have a medium to large house, a belt-driven fan will be much quieter than a direct-drive model (blades attached to the motor shaft). Many contractors recommend W.W. Grainger's fans. At grainger.com, type in the keywords "whole house fans" to see tech specs and coverage in square feet. A 36-inch-diameter, two-speed, belt-driven fan that will cool 2,300 square feet lists for $284.25.

After publishing this answer, Yankee home editor Polly Bannister heard from NH Public Utilities Commissioner Clifton Below who has more information on whole-house fans. Scroll down to see his suggestions.

Are daylily buds edible? How do you cook them? -- F.P., Berlin, NH

The flower buds, flowers, leaves, and even roots of the daylily (Hemerocallis) are universally considered edible. But with any new food, it's always prudent to try a small amount first in case your system reacts differently. Some people, for example, may have allergic reactions to raw daylily buds but are fine with cooked ones.

Chinese cooks have used daylilies in their cuisine for centuries (the flowers are sometimes used in hot-and-sour soup). Yellow-flowered types are sweetest, while darker flowers have a stronger flavor. Pick from plants that are free of pesticides, and wash everything before eating. Then steam, boil, saute, or fry. What a way to impress your friends with your horticultural versatility!

Want more information? Visit the American Hemerocallis Society Web site at: daylilies.org

R. Wayne Mezitt, Chairman, Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton, MA

Do you have a question about your New England home or garden? Join our home forum and tell us about your project or share your advice; trade planting and growing tips with other Yankee readers in the garden forum. Start at: YankeeMagazine.com/forum

When I sit on the couch in the evening, it feels as if gale-force winds are blowing through the window. What can I do to take the chill off? -- J.F., Bridgton, ME

It's all about windows -- they're responsible for up to one-third of total heat loss in a home. And I know windows. My husband owns Window Master, based in Dublin, New Hampshire (603-563-7788; windowmasternh.com). If you have double-hung windows on weights and pulleys, Window Master has a kit that allows you to retrofit the windows by installing a vinyl jambliner and insulating the weight pocket. The bonus here is that not only will you be warmer, but you'll be able tilt the windows in for easy washing (no more ladders). I know this works because we have it in our home. The $195 kit includes jambliners, weather stripping, new sash locks, and instructions (to order, go to jambliners.com). If you are not handy, you should have help from a carpenter.