Temperatures are rising across the board in the northern hemisphere, things are getting hot, sweaty, and downright uncomfortable, and naturally, you’re going to want to do something about it. However, if you have been trying to live sustainability, you may want to be mindful of how you handle the cooling in your home. Here, we’re going to look at some of the methods of cooling the home down that can help you cut down on the energy bills, while still being as effective as possible.
Don’t let that sunshine in
Sure, the sight of the sun shining through the windows with those bright blue skies can be a very appealing vista to keep outside your window. However, light is heat. If you’re going to let it shine into your home freely, then you’re going to let it heat up the home, as well. Pulling the curtains or installing some blackout blinds can certainly help to block the sunlight. However, if you don’t quite want to keep the windows covered up throughout the day, then you can look into options such as tinting the window, as well. That way, you can still see through the windows and enjoy the view without heating up the place quite as much.
Get some shade outdoors
Sometimes, it can be hotter inside the house than it is outside. The sun coming in through the windows all day might make going outside the more comfortable option, especially on those stuffy, high-humidity days. However, if you’re outdoors, then you’re more likely to be directly under the sun. That is unless you have some shade to enjoy. Rather than having to keep repositioning around your garden, installing an awning can make sure that you have somewhere to sit and relax throughout the day. It also helps to cool the house a little as the windows and walls beneath the awning get to escape the sun’s gaze.
Add some cover to your wall
While you might think that all of the sun’s heat comes through the windows, that’s not the case. Yes, they are a sensitive spot, but the walls of the home heat up, as well, as that heat begins to emanate inside. As such, cladding your exterior walls can help insulate the home and prevent it from getting as hot. Installing cladding outside the walls or insulation inside the walls are the most effective approaches, there are cheaper options, too. For one, you can find non-invasive vines that can be planted on the wall, especially on the south side, where the sun shines stronger in the summer. They can add a distinct and relaxing aesthetic to the home’s exterior, too.
Switch it up with a ceiling fan
If you want to keep the home cool in the middle of a heatwave, you’re going to need to rely on energy to some degree, that’s a fact. It’s all about how much you’re able to get away with using, and how much you’re able to save. So, while ceiling fans do, for instance, require electricity to run, they require a lot less than the typical air conditioner unit. You feel an immediate coolness on your skin when you get the right one, but you also want to keep the air flowing throughout the home rather than staying stagnant in one spot. So many sure you choose the right ceiling fan with blades that are big enough and rotate strongly enough that you can actually feel the sensation of air moving.
Choose your AC with care
If you’re looking to save as much energy as possible, then you might be hesitant to use any air conditioning in the first place. However, you don’t need to deprive yourself, entirely. It is possible to choose an AC unit that doesn’t use as much energy. For instance, there are some air conditioning without outdoor unit options with AAA-rated electrical energy efficiency. Without the need for as much work to go into installing it, it can also help you save money, as well. How you use your AC can change the amount of energy it consumes, as well, so you can benefit from the comprehensive cooling power it offers without having to rely on it solely.
Be wary of your appliances
If you’re inside the home, then you should be mindful of what electronics you have on. Of course, there are some appliances you can’t avoid using, but the more that you have running at once, the more heat they will contribute. Watching the TV might not be too bad, but having a desktop PC running with two monitors, and having a gaming console on all at once, that’s going to make most rooms stuffy. When the day is at its hottest, you might want to keep some of your appliances off or take breaks from them to prevent them from heating up too much. Of course, using electronics sparingly means lower energy bills, too.
Mind your attic, too
You may have heard that heat rises, but heat can also come into the home from the very top of it, as well. Your home’s roof is going to heat up considerably during the summer, with some materials making it more likely to heat up even quicker. As such, your attic can soon become stifling with heat and, while heat does typically move, it can also come down into the home, as well, if the space below is cooler. The best way to prevent this is to invest in insulation for the attic. Insulation isn’t cheap, and the bigger your attic, the bigger the cost, but you may be able to get some financial help with installing it, depending on where you live.
With the tips above, you can make sure that your home stays cool and comfortable while avoiding some of the worst excesses of summer energy consumption. You have to find your own compromises and find how far you’re willing to go to satisfy both your personal needs and the needs of the environment.