Beat the Heat without Air Conditioning
June 19, 2009 – 10:35 pm by MarinaHanes
Blasting the air conditioning during those hot, humid summer days is refreshing to the body and mind. However, it doesn’t do anything for your finances or temper when you receive the electricity bill one month later. Instead of relying on your air conditioner, stay cool by making some investments in your home.
Update the Windows
The seals around your windows can leak a significant amount of cool air, so if you have old windows, it might be time to update them. Although updating will initially cost you a large sum of money, you will gain some money back since the heat or cool air from your home doesn’t have a chance to escape. Triple-glazed windows provide you with an energy saving opportunity, sometimes between 15-30% on your energy bill. These types of windows will benefit you in the summer and winter.
If you are unable to replace your windows, apply a light reflecting film on your windows. Low-E Films can deflect approximately 70% of the sun’s heat and 99% of UV radiation.
Seal the Doors
Did you know that your local home improvement store sells weather stripping kits with everything you need to replace broken seals on doors? Well, with $20 you can ensure that air isn’t coming in or out of your home’s doors.
Install Solar Screen or Shades
Vertical blinds and Roman shades can also help block the sunlight from heating up your home. Some brands of solar screens and shades are made from recyclable fabrics and are also PVC-free.
These three home improvement ideas can decrease your use of air conditioning and heating when the weather becomes unbearable (hot and sticky or cold and dry). Regardless if you can make all three changes or just one, you can make a difference in your home’s temperature and possibly your monthly energy bill.
Tags: air conditioning, beat the heat, solar blinds, triple-glazed windows