Summer means sunshine and happiness, but nobody is happy with a house that feels like an oven. Not everybody enjoys the refrigerated feeling – or the electricity bill – that comes with air conditioning either. So what are some easy ways to beat the heat without all of the expense? Consider these tips and key elements to keep cool this summer.
Light
Case the joint! Where does the sun blast into your home, and at what time of day? Where do you get natural shade from nearby trees, shrubbery or neighboring buildings?
Make sure you’re blocking the sun during key times so your space does not heat up like a greenhouse. Start out conservatively, by covering all your windows. Then, play around to find the ones you can get away with keeping open.
Hunter Douglas Silhouette® window shadings
Choose room-darkening window treatments for full blockage, but if you want the natural light without the heat, opt for sheer shades that let in a soft glow.
Don’t forget to cover your skylights!
When the sun goes down, keep the shades down in areas of the home where you need privacy –but wherever you can, raise them and throw open the windows. (Another advantage to sheer shades such as Silhouette window shadings is that they let air flow, but make it impossible for neighbors to see in.)
Air Flow
We often run to open a window when it gets hot – but sometimes that just lets all the heat from outside rush indoors. Think logically instead.
During the daytime, keep the windows closed and covered to keep the hot air from coming into your home. To prevent the air from feeling stale, keep it circulating inside. Invest in stylish fans for your rooms – ceiling, standing or tabletop models, depending on your décor.
When the temperature cools down at night, throw open all the windows and point the fans outward at first to blow any excess warmth from inside into the great outdoors. Even better if you can create a corridor of air flow that draws stale warm air through your home and out, in one direction. After an hour or so, turn the fans inward to welcome the cool night air into your home.
Insulation
Maximize both of these strategies by choosing insulating window treatments that help them along. Duette Architella Honeycomb shades are the most energy efficient product on the market. With a variety of colors and extra options to choose from, they are the most visually streamlined and energy efficient way to keep your home from becoming a sauna this summer.
Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella® honeycomb shades
If you practice this three-part strategy diligently, you’ll notice it paying off within a couple of days. Then, simply sit back and enjoy your comfy space, even in the dog days of summer.
