Sometimes hiding out in the basement just isn’t enough. In the hot summer months, it’s easy to go a little crazy when your home begins to feel like a sauna. Cranking up your AC doesn’t have to be your only solution. With a few simple changes, your home can be on its way to a comfortable, cool atmosphere.
- Use natural light & energy efficient lighting
Take advantage of the daylight! Utilizing natural light cuts down on your energy use. If you’ve got to have a lamp on, opt for energy-efficient lighting, such as LED bulbs.
2. Unplug unused items
Items plugged into a socket produce heat, even if they are not in use. To cut down on heat, unplug unnecessary appliances and electronics when not in use. You might even see a change in your energy bill, too!
3. Plan your cooking schedule
Using your oven during the day is a guaranteed way to increase the amount of heat in your home. Instead, try cooking your meals ahead of time in the morning or later in the evening. During the day, opt for a microwave or crock pot to cook and heat up food.
4. Close blinds and shades
Though the natural light may be visually appealing, it can also increase the heat within your home. If the sun is beaming directly into your home from the window, you may want to slightly or even completely close the blinds or use shades. You can even use blackout shades for more intense sunblock.
5. Cool off unused rooms to insure a cool home
Create cool spots in your home by closing the doors of unused rooms. Don’t forget to close the blinds and shades to keep the sun out. If a ceiling fan exists, you can utilize it for maximum effect, but the room should be fine without it.
6. Inspect your insulation for a proper cool home
Make sure your home is properly insulated. Seek out and seal air holes that may be causing air to seep out from your home, thus making the cooling process more difficult. Cut down on how frequently you open and close doors that lead outside
7. Replace Asphalt Shingles
If you have a roof with a steep slant, your options are more limited than if you had a flat or barely-sloped roof. One option that works for steep roofs is reflective shingles. Shingles that are coated with light, reflective granules work to make a cool roof. These shingles can be specially ordered and purchased at many home-improvement stores.