Month: July 2023
The only thing more brutal than the summer heat is the energy bill you’ll get from the electric company. Keeping your house cool can be a challenge when you want to keep your utility bills and energy use in check. Fortunately, there are many techniques you can use to keep your house cool and comfortable without relying heavily on the AC.
Cook outside instead of inside. Every time you use the oven or stove, you heat up your home. Your home is getting hot enough from the sun without the extra heat that will remain trapped for hours. If you must cook, use the grill or set up an outdoor stove. Better yet, cook less and eat more cool, uncooked salads in the summer.
Add shade to the sunny side of your house. One side of your house will always be sunnier than the other. In North America, Europe, and all places in the northern hemisphere, the southern side of your house will get more sun.
Mitigate the extra heat from the sun by adding shading plants or trees to the southern side of your house.
If trees are not an option, try adding a simple roof extension to offer some shade to the South-facing wall. This usually blocks a lot of heat absorption. It also gives you a shaded outdoor living space.
Use light-blocking window shades. For windows that receive a heavy dose of sunlight, cut down on the greenhouse effect by using shutters and shades during the day. Let in natural light through the North-facing windows only. Open windows that don’t get a lot of sunlight for a nice breeze.
When the sun goes down, open your windows and let your house air out. In areas that aren’t extremely humid, nights become cool. Your house will become stuffy on hot days. Opening windows at night allows fresh, cool air to flow in. Just remember to keep the screens shut to keep the summer insects out!
Modify your roof to be a lighter color. Black tiles suck up heat and transfer it to your home. Even a corrugated steel roof is cooler if it’s painted white. Using lighter colors or adding plants has significant cooling effects on your home.
Only use the AC when you’re home. It doesn’t matter what temperature your house is while you’re out. Only turn your AC on when you are at home and the temperature is truly uncomfortable. Turn the air conditioner off once your house is comfortable enough. Not only will you save on energy, your body will grow better heat tolerance, making the outside more comfortable. Also, you’ll appreciate your AC much more if you only run it sparingly.
An air conditioner is not the only way to cool down in your home this summer. Try keeping a variety of cold drinks or chilled water available. Downing a glass of icy lemonade will keep you cool and comfortable for at least an hour if sipped slowly.
You don’t need to spend a ton of money to keep your house cool. If you have the possibility, adding smart landscaping will keep your home more comfortable in the summer. If not, there are plenty of more affordable ways to stay cool at home in the summer heat.
Home improvement has the exceptional benefit of improving your home’s value. Updating and maintaining your house is also a good way to make it energy efficient and to save money. Not only does home improvement often make financial sense, it can be a great way to pass the time, too. The terrific ideas below can be just the start you need.
If you can, put in actual wood flooring rather than laminate. Laminate looks like real wood but it cannot be refinished. In 10 or so years you or whoever owns the home will be required to get a whole new floor rather than refinishing it.
If you have the available funds you should choose real hard wood floors rather than laminate. While laminate flooring looks like wood and requires less maintenance and cleaning, you cannot refinish this type of flooring. In another decade or two, you or another owner will find it necessary to install new flooring rather than simply refinishing.
You can use drywall mud to add texture and visual interest to your walls. This will also cover up any nicks or blemishes. Adding texture to your walls can be so simple. Use a trowel to apply the joint compound, and then dab with a sponge, brush, or a crunched up newspaper to add some texture.
When it comes to older homes that have carpet throughout the household, you get many years of use and wear, which leaves outdated mess and stains. In contrast, wood floors carry a timeless elegance and are also sturdier than carpet.
A design philosophy that many people are using is the age-in-place design strategy. Age-in-place is a design philosophy which considers the homeowner’s age over the amount of time they own the home. No matter how long you plan on staying in your house, these additions will make your home a more comfortable place to live.
Try to determine in advance the amount of paint you will need for any painting job. Don’t guess about the costs because that can end up costing you big time. Take your time and simply measure what you are painting.
To help you stay on top of home improvement projects, start a budget for repairs, upgrades and other house-related expenses. Your home will look better and stay trouble free if you actually spend a little on it each year. If money is left over at the year’s end, it can go toward more home improvement work in the days to come.
Never underestimate the important of a quality door. It’s both the first, as well as last, sight of visitors to your home. Heat can be lost through a misinstalled door. And if you’ve got older locks or frames, these could be a security risk.
If your home is in a dry area that is prone to fires, you should consider buying white or red cedar fences. Cedar is good because of its safety with regards to wildfires.
Simple renovations are a great place for a beginner to start. The tips in this article will help to guide them to success. The accomplishment you feel will be worth every second spent.
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