subject: Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer [print this page] By Dan Marcus By Dan Marcus
"I've had it with this heat! Turn on the air conditioner already!"
As the summer months begin and bring record-breaking temperatures, this type of exclamation becomes far too common. However, resorting to the AC shouldn't always be the first line of defense against the scorching heat. Energy prices have been increasing and estimates show that the average homeowner spends about $1000 a year on cooling costs alone.
Luckily, there are a number of ways to save costs and make your home more energy-efficient this summer. The U.S. government subsidizes a state-distributed program called Weatherization Assistance. Since certain new environmentally-friendly home products may be costly, Weatherization Assistance compensates homeowners who make energy-efficient upgrades.
One of these specific upgrades is using eco-friendly window treatments. These new window treatments provide better insulation by decreasing solar heat gain between the air inside your home and the window. Examples of these treatments can be window shades, shutters, solar fabric, and window films, which create a strong insulating barrier or absorb the heat rays. These methods can reduce heating costs by up to 45% as well as block harmful UV rays entering the home.
There are number of other factors to consider when trying to improve home insulation. Energy-efficient ventilation and cooling/heating systems must be properly managed. Similarly, it's necessary to maintain a home's floors, walls, and attics to ensure that unnecessary heat transfer is not occurring (such as cool air exiting). Without a tightly sealed home, the air system will essentially be futile and unreasonably costly.
Fans are a similar alternative to using air conditioning systems. Like these systems, fans provide an effective source of cool air and circulate that air throughout homes. However, they use much less electricity than an entire air system. Fans can be mounted be mounted from almost anywhere in the home and stand-alone models are just as effective. Since these appliances are specifically directed toward a certain region, they are not using (and therefore wasting) as much energy as an air conditioning system.
So this summer, when you're home starts to feel like the Mojave Desert, think twice before immediately blasting the air conditioner. Consider investments in new window treatments, check that your home is properly insulated, and install more fans. In the long run, these methods will actually save you money and your home will be noticeably cooler. Have a great summer!
