Summer can feel like a constant battle between the heat and your energy bill. You’re so desperate to keep cool, but running your AC 24/7 racks up a massive bill at the end of the month.
But there are a few simple things you can do in your home to help beat the heat.
Implement these tricks to keep your home cooler this summer and save on your energy consumption and utility bills.
Curtains Or Blinds
A good starting point is to make sure you have good-quality curtains or blinds to block out the sun and keep things cooler in summer.
Curtains are great for insulation. The thicker the better to block out the heat and prevent cool air from escaping. Light-colored or reflective curtains will even further reduce the amount of heat entering your home.
Compared to curtains, blinds allow you to adjust the amount of light and air in your home. As a rule, choose blinds or curtains that are reflective and keep them closed during the hottest times of the day. Allow for natural ventilation and sunlight during cooler times of the day.
Window tinting is another option if you prefer to keep your curtains open throughout the day.
Window Tinting
Window tinting is a great way to cut down on the cost of cooling your house during the summer because it reduces the amount of solar heat and UV rays coming into your home. Less heat is able to pass through your windows, keeping your home cooler.
Another big advantage of window tinting is that it will prevent sun damage on your interior furniture or carpets. Less heat means your cooling system can work more efficiently.
Don’t go the cheap way, hire a professional with references to make sure you get good-quality film and installation. Some Home Owner Associations may have regulations against window tinting so be sure to research beforehand.
In the end, it’s a long-term investment that’s worth the extra pennies.
Insulation
One of the most efficient ways to save energy in the summer is to make sure your home is properly insulated. We associate insulation with keeping your house warm in winter, but it also keeps things cool during the summer.
Insulation helps to control the flow of heat (or thermal energy) and reduce the amount of heat transfer. There are a few types of insulation including fiberglass, cellulose, spray foam, and rigid foam. Cavity wall insulation in existing homes with hollow walls, or ensuring insulation during construction or renovation of your home is crucial.
Something easily forgotten about is insulating your attic. Heat rises and escapes through the roof so having proper insulation in your attic will significantly reduce heat in the summer and retain more heat in the winter.
Make sure you hire a professional to help you with this process. It can be a costly process and if you don’t do it right, you will have wasted money on the installation, have inefficient insulation, and have to compensate using more of your AC to stay cool. They will also know the insulation requirements for your area and climate.
Weatherstripping
Something that works well with insulation is weatherstripping which refers to closing gaps where air can travel in and out of your home. Your insulation is going to be less effective if there are gaps for heat to leak through.
Weatherstripping can be used on movable components like doors and windows as well as stationary components. There are a variety of different materials that you can use for different specifications.
Caulk is a great choice for gaps in solid things like walls, but you need something more flexible for doors and windows to ensure that they can still move freely. By properly sealing your house you can better control the internal temperature and use less energy trying to adjust it.
Ventilation
You can also make sure that you have enough air moving through your home, particularly in the early morning and evening when the air is cooler. A nice breeze can bring down the temperature in your house substantially.
The more modern open living plans make this more achievable as the air can flow easily throughout the home. Opening doors and windows at the front of your home, as well as the back, can create a nice breeze that flows through the house.
It’s a delicate balance of keeping the heat out while letting cool air into your home.
Whole-house ventilation systems like balanced ventilation or energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems, bring fresh air into the home while removing stale warm air. This is usually only seen in larger homes and buildings.
There are a few things you should do to ensure your home is prepared for summer such as cleaning any vents, ducts, and fans, and backyard cleaning.
Fans
People use ceiling fans less now that AC is more common, but they are a great low-energy alternative. Ceiling fans keep the air in your house circulating and distribute air throughout a room, making it feel cooler.
This means you can reduce energy costs overall because fans use far less electricity than an AC and you’ll rely less on your AC when air is properly circulated.
Exhaust fans are another consideration to make. Usually used in the warmer, more humid areas of the home like bathrooms and kitchens, they remove any heat, moisture, or odors from a room. It’s a good way to not only prevent heat build-up while cooking or showering but help prevent mold.
Smart Thermostat
Getting a smart thermostat might seem like a way to keep your house warmer, not cooler, but it is great for bringing the temperature down in summer. And the advantage of a smart thermostat over an AC is that it can turn itself off and on.
This way, you can maintain an ideal temperature without having the AC blasting all day, wasting energy, and inflating your electricity bill. A smart thermostat might be a bigger investment at first but will result in long-term savings.
You can also use your smart thermostat in conjunction with your ceiling fans to circulate cold air without using as much energy.
