How to Stay Cool in the Summer
With record breaking heat becoming the norm, it is more important than ever to find ways to stay cool through the bright, sunny, and hot days of summer.
According the U.S. Department of Energy, a whopping 48% of the typical homeowner’s power bill is directly related to heating and cooling costs. Finding a way to reduce those costs means keeping money in your pocket.
Whole House Fans
One of the most cost-effective ways to keep your home cool and save money while doing it is to install a whole house fan. These are often overlooked as a cooling solution. But in some situations, a house fan can actually act as a substitute for air conditioning, especially at the lower end of hotter temperatures. A whole house fan has the advantage of using minimal energy compared to an air conditioning unit or system. A whole house fan pulls fresh air into your home through open windows, which can also help improve your indoor air quality. The air pulled from the living space is used to cool the attic. Cool mornings are the ideal time to pre-condition both spaces.
A potential drawback to whole house fans in old homes is that they can be noisy, particularly if they are not installed correctly. The good news is that if you’re looking at new homes for sale, whole house fans will be much quieter due to updated technology.
Optimal Window Coverings
Another way to lower your home’s temperature is with quality window coverings. Window coverings simply prevent light and heat from entering the home through the windows. Therefore, they keep your rooms cooler. Increasingly, homeowners are turning to cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades. These have triple layer cells, to trap air. By trapping air, cold air stays on the inside and hot air stays outside. Yet, another option is to use solar shades. Solar shades allow light to come in while blocking heat.
Covering your windows by installing and lowering blinds on hot and sunny days can do wonders for cooling your home. In fact, experts agree that window coverings are one of the most cost-effective ways to lower your cooling bills.
When you are buying a house from California home builders you can opt to get high quality window coverings with your new home. By adding their cost to your mortgage, it will save you money in the long run.
Smart Cooling Systems
Finally, many of today’s new homes for sale feature smart heating and cooling systems. Smart thermostats allow homeowners to control their comfort remotely from a smartphone or tablet. They also learn your routines and regulate temperatures based on whether or not you’re home. The old days of wasting energy heating and cooling a home when you’re away are a thing of the past.