Well, here we are just a few days from the Summer Solstice and the official start of Summer. With the summer season, there will be times when the comfort of your home will be a welcome respite from some of the inevitable dog days of summer. The trick is to find the balance between beating the heat and not busting your budget. The team at RIHI would like to share some simple tips to help you save money by relying less on your air conditioning and more on natural solutions like “passive cooling”.
Passive cooling is basically a way to keep your home cooler in the summer by not relying as much on your air conditioning whether you have central air or separate window units. There are some simple steps you can take to maintain a more consistent temperature in your home, making it more comfortable. Even if you still require occasional air conditioning, passive cooling can help slash your energy consumption and save you money. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Ventilation
Creating good ventilation in your home will increase its ability to get rid of unwanted heat. Basically, you want to use the breeze from outside to enter your home through a screen door or window, cool the air inside, and push the warm air out to the other side of your house. On days when there is a little breeze, you can use a ceiling fan or even a box fan to help move the warm air out of your house.
Shading
The main purpose of shading is to help prevent heat gain in your home. Some of the most common shading methods
- Installing shades or blinds on your windows to help reflect the heat away. Light colored shades or blinds are better as they will not absorb as much heat as darker colors
- Planting trees and vegetation on the eastern and western side of your home can help shad your home from lower morning and evening sun.
- You can also use more techniques on the exterior of your home like exterior shades, retractable sunshades, and canopies that help keep sun out of your house.
Landscaping
This method relies on the principle of evaporative cooling which works by breezes blowing over water-soaked membranes. In this case, the leaves of a plant have moisture in them. A landscaper can help guide you by positioning the plants to allow breezes to pass through them without blocking the breezes. Another way to cool breezes before they enter a home would be some sort of water feature like a pond. And the addition of a waterfall or mister will help cool the air even more.
Beyond these simple steps, RIHI can also help you keep your home cooler in by installing energy-efficient, Energy Star Rated windows, roofing, and siding. And what’s great about these improvements is that not only do they help you keep cooler in the summer, but they will also add long-lasting beauty and value to your home. So, enjoy your summer, and a cooler, more comfortable home.
