June 29, 2008
I don’t want to live through another sweltering summer. Our house faces east, but our family room is on the back of the house, so the living area gets really hot. We have an air conditioner in the master bedroom, so at least sleeping is bearable. Unfortunately I can’t afford to put in a heat pump or air conditioning. Is there anything I can do to make the rest of the house more comfortable?
Given much of our weather this month, it’s tough even imagining sweltering. But you’re most likely right that come August we’ll all be looking for a cool breeze.
There are some simple lifestyle changes you can make to be more comfortable, as well as some low-cost investments in your home to consider.
First, keep the heat out. That means closing windows, blinds and drapes when the day begins to warm up — or when you leave the house in the morning.
Then when it’s cooler in the evening, open the doors and windows. Clark Public Utilities energy counselor Bob West said that if you “purge” the house by opening windows and doors in the evening and early morning when it is cooler outside than inside, a well insulated house will usually stay cool most of the day.
“Unfortunately a lot of people put a fan in the window and pull hot air into the house all day, instead of closing it up tight as soon as it’s warmer outside,” he said.
West also said that shading windows on the outside with awnings or outdoor blinds can help minimize heat entering the home. Inside blinds help, but not as much as blinds that stop the sun’s heat before it reaches the glass.
Consider planting deciduous trees or shrubs on the south and west side of your house to shade the house. A lattice screen planted with a vine may be a quicker solution to shade windows.
To gain cross ventilation, during the cooler part of the day open a window high on one side of the house — the warm side of the house is best — and open a lower window on the other (cooler) side. You’ll expel warm air through the higher window and draw cooler air in through the lower.
Portable fans inside a home do not cool air, but move it to make the body feel cooler. They’re inexpensive to operate and can offer some relief if you’re not pulling in hot outside air. Running the furnace fan can circulate cooler air throughout the house. This is especially true if the cold-air return for the furnace is in a basement. Depending on the system, it can cost anywhere from 25 cents to a dollar or more a day to operate furnace fans, so be sure to shut off the fans when you’re not home so you’re not wasting energy and money.
Avoid using the oven or broiler on hot days. Use the microwave or outdoor barbecue. You might even consider using a crock pot in the garage or outside, too. Turn off unnecessary lighting and change out incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. They emit less heat and use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescents.
As an investment we’d recommend adding insulation to your ceilings if it is insufficient or has been damaged or has settled through the years. Insulation helps block heat from entering the house, just like it keeps cold out in winter. Also, it’s important to have adequate ventilation in your attic space and the house sealed against air leaks to keep heat out. Adding insulation and sealing air leaks around windows and doors is relatively simple and inexpensive, and can save you energy year-round. It also will add to your home’s value and comfort.
