Beating the Heat – Without A/C

The summer months are quickly approaching, as well as the high temperatures that come with them. This means staying cool and comfortable becomes the top priority in your home. While cranking up the air conditioning is always an option, it’s not the most budget friendly or energy efficient means of cooling down. Here are a few different ways to beat the heat without breaking the bank.

Install Window Films

Enjoying the natural light a warm sunny day brings is one of the best parts of summer. Unfortunately, it will allow heat and harmful UV rays to enter your home as well. Adding a clear, reflective film to the windows in your home is a great way to reduce temperatures and eliminate a majority of those UV rays. These films are invisible and easily installed, and come with the added benefit of reducing fading in furniture, carpets, and wall hangings.

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Ditch Incandescent Lights

You can’t get much less efficient then incandescent light bulbs. Not only do they generate the most heat, but they use up the most energy as well. Switching out your incandescent bulbs for more energy efficient options like LED (Light Emitting Diode) or CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights) will temperatures and energy costs down. On average, energy efficient light bulbs use anywhere from 25% to 80% less energy, and last 3 to 25 times longer.

(Source: http://energy.gov)

Dodge the Drafts

Drafty areas in your home allow cool air to escape and hot air to enter. By inspecting doors, windows, vents attics and chimneys for bad seals or openings, you can identify problematic spots and quickly address them. Use silicone-based chalking to seal any cracks or gaps around windows and vents. Also check to see if the insulation in your or basement is still functional, and replace it if it’s not. You never want to seal the gaps under your doors permanently, but there are a variety of removable draft guards available to choose from.