Step 1: Step 1: Materials and ToolsShow All ItemsHow To's & Quick Tips >Cool Off on the Cheap with a DIY Air Conditioner Cooling down in the hot summer months isn't easy—or cheap. Save on your electric bill this season with a handy DIY that uses only a fan, bucket, and ice to help you chill out. We owe a lot to the humble air conditioner. Like most inventions, the idea came from a very real need: relief from extreme temperatures. The quest for cooler air has a venerable history. In ancient Egypt, people hung reeds in windows after dipping them in water; the water evaporated, cooling the air that blew through the window. Over time, innovators in China, England, and the United States transformed this cool idea into our familiar American household staple. But for all their virtues, modern in-window air conditioners are not perfect machines. For one thing, they cost a small fortune to run. But with a fan and Debbie Williams’ genius DIY, you can get all the benefits of a window AC for far less than a store-bought unit by using that same age-old concept: chilled water or ice.

Besides an old fan and instructions, you’ll need to round up a utility knife, a five-gallon bucket (with lid), Styrofoam lining, 12 inches of PVC pipe, a hole saw or Forstner bit—and a gallon jug of water to freeze for later. First, place the fan upside down on the lid (so the airflow will be directed into the bucket), trace the outline of the fan on the lid, and cut it out with a utility knife. ac units for semisIf necessary, saw off the fan’s stand or support, then fit your fan securely in the hole. central air conditioner unit coversNext, use the Forstner bit to drill three large holes through the bucket’s side, just wide enough for the PVC pipes you have on hand. central ac units carrierRemove the lid in order to line the inside of the bucket with Styrofoam, then repeat with the drill so that the holes go through the lining too.

Saw your PVC pipe into three pieces, each three to four inches long, and slide a section snugly into each hole. The unit works for about six hours at a time, but a tighter seal can extend that span by keeping the ice in the bucket cooler. Finally, place the frozen jug of water into your bucket and replace the lid. Remember: The fan should be facing down. Go find the nearest electrical outlet, plug the fan in and switch it on, and your modified appliance will pass air through the cooler to chill—leaving you at a solid 68 degrees of comfortable. Then, grab yourself a chair and enjoy the breeze; all of this hard work deserves a breather.Whether your goal is to fix, tinker, build or make something better, your next adventure in DIY starts here.A Sweet Way to Earn Up to $200* in Bill Credits This Year Earn up to $200* in bill credits with the sweet discount plan that makes it easy to conserve energy over the summer. Get started now to participate in Summer Discount Plan. Manage your plan to suit your preferences..

Summer heat can put a strain on electrical grids, so allow us to remotely turn off or cycle off your air conditioner (A/C) for a limited time. When you participate in the Summer Discount Plan, you save by voluntarily allowing us to shut down your A/C for up to 6 hours a day during “energy events” we may call during periods of  high electricity demand, or emergencies. We supply and install a device on your home or central-A/C unit to remotely shut it off during energy events. You can choose your level of participation from 4 options: Save more with our “standard” option, or choose the flexibility of our “override” option, which lets you opt out of up to 5 energy event days a year. Then decide between Maximum Savings (100% cycling) or Maximum Comfort (50% cycling.) Maximum Savings Cycling: A/C may be shut off for up to 6 hours a day Maximum Comfort Cycling: A/C may be shut off for 15 minutes each half hour for up to 6 hours a day Save up to $200*

Save up to $100* Save up to $50* Summer Discount Plan vs. Two of our most popular savings incentives are Summer Discount Plan and Save Power Days. Each offers a unique way to save energy and earn bill credits: Summer Discount Plan allows us to cycle off only your air conditioning during periods of high demand; Save Power Days gives you the option to reduce energy use during planned events by turning off or unplugging appliances. Occasionally we’ll call a Summer Discount Plan and Save Power Day event on the same day, which means you can save even more! Learn more about Save Power Days and enroll today to maximize your savings during the summer months. Credits on your electricity bill will be based on your current rate, the size of your A/C, which program you choose, and how much electricity you use. Credit calculations are based on the accurate actual amperage for each air conditioner unit. The actual formula used is: Single Phase (Amps x Volts) / 1,400 + .09 = Tons.

Your Summer Discount Plan bill credits will be automatically applied to your monthly statements between June 1 and Oct. 1, starting your bill cycle after we have installed, verified, and activated the cycling device(s) on your A/C. For further details, refer to these tariff schedules: Net Energy Metering (NEM) credits received under Schedule NEM may offset in whole or in part the program credits associated with the Summer Discount Plan. Ready to get started? Enroll Now or Already enrolled? Read our Terms & Conditions for the Summer Discount Plan. To be eligible to participate in the Summer Discount Plan, your central A/C system must be in good working order throughout your participation on the program. A 1-year minimum participation is required, with exceptions made under medical circumstances. If you have any rooftop air conditioners, you will not be eligible for the “override” options. If you are a tenant, you are responsible for determining whether your property owner or manager’s approval is required for the installation and operation of the cycling device.

If so, you are responsible for obtaining this approval prior to submitting your application to us. The Summer Discount Plan is not recommended for anyone with heat-related health issues. If you receive a medical baseline allocation for air conditioning under Schedule MB-E, you would also not be eligible to participate. Summer Discount Plan Energy Events Summer is a time to take a load off. That’s why our Summer Discount Plan remotely shuts off your A/C during energy events. We may call an energy event in response to emergencies, overworked electrical grids, high wholesale energy prices, or as part of testing. An energy event can happen at any time during the year, but will never last more than 6 hours a day (with the possible exception of a system emergency). You can access information on energy events in progress at any time. Have questions about the Summer Discount Plan? Maybe you’re wondering if all your electricity shuts off in addition to your A/C (no), or if your A/C can be turned off more than once a day (yes), or if there’s a cost to join the Summer Discount Plan (no, it’s free!).

For answers to these and other questions, please see our FAQs. *The estimated savings amounts represent the savings a resident could enjoy with a typical 4.5-ton central air conditioning unit. Savings could increase with larger units and decrease for smaller ones. Maximum credit amounts are subject to certain minimum usage requirements and vary by central air conditioner tonnage. Credits based on enrollment in program from June 1 to October 1. Enrollment after June 1 will result in prorated savings beginning from the first meter read date after your application is processed and your device is installed and activated. SCE may also cycle off your A/C for evaluation or testing purposes. The credit amounts and program options are subject to change by the California Public Utilities Commission. Customers receiving a medical baseline allocation for air conditioning under Schedule MB-E are not eligible to participate in the Summer Discount Plan. Net Energy Metering (NEM) credits received under Schedule NEM may offset in whole or in part the program credits associated with the Summer Discount Plan.