Even here in our cooler-than-average community, summer has a way of bringing all the heat. Most South Bay homes do not have air conditioning and if they do, using it all day every day can be extremely expensive.
There are in fact, some low-cost ways to stay cool at home this summer – have a look.
Close curtains and blinds to block out heat, especially during peak hours.
Keeping curtains and blinds open to bring in the sunlight also brings in a lot of heat; much of unwanted heat comes in through windows.
A great way to keep a room’s cool air in through natural insulation, is to hang blackout curtains, even for just the summer months. They will also provide an effective (and affordable) way to fall asleep and stay sleeping.
Check doors and windows to ensure no air is escaping.
Sealing cracks in windows and doors will increase insulation, keeping cool air in and hot air out. Locating air leaks around the home and repairing them saves money and increases both insulation and the value of the home. Look into possible financial assistance to insulate your home by following the link at the end of this story.
Use fans to circulate air and stay cool.
Ceiling and tower fans can be installed/placed in multiple rooms to keep cool air circulating. There are even whole house ventilating fans that are considered a good investment and less expensive than central air conditioning. They are energy efficient, quiet, and cool off a home quickly.
Use more energy-efficient LED bulbs.
In contrast to incandescent light bulbs which release 90 percent of their energy as heat, LED bulbs convert most of their energy to light. LEDs also last longer – 25,000 hours compared to 1,200 hours . The cost of an LED bulb is approximately 4 times less for daily use over the course of a year. It makes sense for both energy and wallet conservation, to switch out incandescent bulbs for LEDs.
Install a smart thermostat.
For an investment of $100-$200, a smart thermostat can save homeowners a lot of money in the long run. From about 15% savings on cooling costs to potential rebates from your electric company, it’s worth looking in to. There are also environmental and energy conservation benefits. It can even be adapted to your home and needs, as in turning itself to eco mode when it detects you’ve left the building.
Clean and replace air filters.
For those with air conditioning units, caring for its air filters as part of summer improvement tasking is imperative. Dusty air filters are harmful to breathing, and likely to block airflow throughout the home. Replacing filters is easy, affordable, and a key way to keep your home healthy and cool.
For more information and links to fantastic resources, click here.
Image by chatchawarn loetsupan from Pixabay
