In recent years, summers in Texas bring blistering heat, high humidity, and the possibility of major blackouts. Running your A/C nonstop is one way to cool your house, but that contributes to power outages and isn’t great for the environment. Taking the following steps to make your home more energy efficient saves you money, helps protect the grid from blackouts, is better for the planet, and keeps you cool on those sweltering days.
Close Your Drapes and Blinds
In the summer, about 76% of the sunlight that falls on standard windows enters to become heat. The simplest and easiest way to prevent this is by putting up curtains or blinds and closing them during the day. Studies show that medium-colored draperies with white plastic backing can reduce energy gains by about 33%. Another option to reduce heat gain through the windows are exterior awnings. Retractable awnings are a good choice so you can put them away during the colder months.
Run a Fan
Ceiling fans are a remarkably efficient and effective way to cool your home, even if you also use air conditioning. A fan blowing on you can make you feel up to 4° cooler, which means you can raise your thermostat without sacrificing your comfort. In the summer, make sure you run the fan in a counterclockwise direction. Floor fans and desk fans are also great options for energy-efficient cooling. Make sure you turn fans off when you leave the room.
Avoid Turning on the Oven
Keeping your house cool is another great reason to light up the grill this summer. If you have to cook indoors, skip the oven and use the microwave or the slow cooker. Better yet, make cold salads or sandwiches that require minimal or no cooking.
Set Your Thermostat to 78°
While you might not think raising your thermostat will help you stay cool, this tip is about the big picture. If everyone sets their A/C to a more moderate temperature, it puts less strain on the grid and leads to fewer power outages. If you have to decide between no A/C or a slightly higher temp, the choice is pretty clear. This tip can also save as much as 10% on your energy bills. Setting it to 85° when you’re going to be gone for more than 2 hours can save even more and won’t affect your comfort while you’re home.
Switch to LED Lightbulbs
If you haven’t already, replace incandescent or halogen light bulbs with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). These bulbs don’t create any heat, so they help keep your house cooler.
Shade Your Home with Smart Landscaping
Planting trees is an excellent long-term investment in your home energy efficiency, comfort, and beauty. While you won’t see immediate results from planting trees around your home, planting trees on the east, south, and west sides of your home have the biggest impact on energy efficiency. Shading your air-conditioning unit will help it run more efficiently as well.
Install/Update Attic Insulation
Proper attic insulation has an immediate and significant positive effect on the comfort of your home in the summer, helps your A/C run more efficiently, and saves you money. A thick layer of environmentally-friendly cellulose insulation keeps the heat in your attic from entering the rest of your home. An uninsulated attic can reach up to 150° in the summer, and if that heat spreads to the rest of your home, your air-conditioner will have to work that much harder to keep your house cool.
Contact the professionals at Home Insulation ATX to see if you qualify for a free home insulation inspection and you’ll be on your way to a cooler, more energy-efficient home today!
Sources
Energy.Gov
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-window-coverings#:~:text=About%2030%25%20of%20a%20home’s,temperatures%2C%20and%20lowering%20energy%20bills
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/fans-cooling
City of Austin
https://www.austintexas.gov/blog/have-cool-summer-tips-stay-safe-and-save-energy .
Just Energy
https://justenergy.com/blog/types-light-bulbs-history-buying-guide/
