How to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
Since I moved from Russia to Spain I really enjoy the sunny weather. One thing – it can become really hot at home during the day time. Of course, air-conditioning is great, however, considering the electricity costs here I need to think of some other energy-efficient solutions.
Managing the interior climate of your house is relatively easy these days. There are appliances and tricks on how to use them that can help you keep the interior warm during the winter and cool in the summer. Doing so while maintaining maximum energy efficiency, on the other hand, is trickier than you think.
In this article, I am going to focus more on how you can keep your home cool this summer, all without breaking your bank and increasing your energy bills by a substantial margin. Here are some of the tips and tricks you can use to get started.
Invest in Window Treatment
Window treatment and better, more energy-efficient windows are great investments to make. They are slightly more expensive than conventional single-pane windows, but the money you save on energy bills will more than make up for the extra investment you make.
Double-glazed aluminium or PVC windows offer the most energy efficiency in most cases. You can then add blackout curtains or blinds that reflect sunlight from outside the house to further increase your home’s energy efficiency. With minimal heat coming from the outside, you can keep the interior cool without hassle.
What you want to avoid are cracks and gaps, particularly around the window and door frames around the house. Even the smallest gap can increase the cost of cooling the interior of the property by as much as 5%; imagine how much more it will cost to keep your home cool during the hot days of summer when you have cracks in your windows.
Use Ducted Air Conditioning
Many homeowners opt for individual air conditioners for different rooms, thinking that it is the most efficient way to go. While this approach is useful for certain types of property, it is certainly not the most efficient way to go for most houses.
What you want is a ducted air conditioning system. A good system is powerful enough to cool the entire house and efficient enough to not have to run at full capacity. Today’s ducted AC systems are also easier to install and cheaper to maintain in the long run.
Like window treatment, you want to avoid cracks and gaps on the air ducts for maximum energy efficiency. Worry not, because a good system will last years without an issue. You can find great ducted air conditioning for your home here.
Eliminate Sources of Heat
Lastly, make sure you pay close attention to various sources of heat around the house. That work computer you have running all day, the appliances you use around the house, and even your dishwasher emit heat from inside the house; not to mention the oven and stoves.
What you need to do is be efficient with how you use these appliances. You are basically eliminating many sources of heat from inside the house and allowing the air conditioner to work more effectively without these heat sources to fight. With these tips and tricks in your arsenal, you will be able to keep your house cool in the summer without an issue.
