5 Ways To Keep A Home Cool During Summer Without Using A/C | RetractableAwnings.com

Summer is the most anticipated season of the year. Backyard barbecues, beach outings, longer days, and warmer nights make for a wonderful time of year to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, "And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." Often associated with new beginnings, summertime is that beautiful stretch of three months where people feel relaxed, happy, and compelled to enjoy the sun. This summer season, however, the sun may be stronger than some might have hoped for. The Weather Channel is predicting hotter than average temperatures across the globe this summer and that presents a potential problem for many homeowners.

As the temperature outside gets increasingly hotter, homeowners are typically forced to crank up the A/C in order to keep their home comfortable and cool. Unfortunately, as the need for more and more A/C rises, so do the monthly bills. Electric companies benefit greatly from summer heat while your wallets suffer just the same. So, what are some tricks to making sure your electric bill doesn’t double or triple during the summer season? Take a look at 5 ways to keep a home cool during the summer without using A/C:

Invest in Great Fans

While most people understand the value in a great ceiling fan, far too many people drop the ball when it comes to running it the correct way. Fans use up a fraction of the energy that the A/C does and should therefore be used as much as possible. During the summer months, make sure that your ceiling fans are not only on high, but that the blades are spinning counterclockwise. Moving in a counterclockwise direction, the fan blades create a forward flow that forces the air down to make a room feel much cooler.

Utilize Your Windows and Blinds

Strategically opening windows can play a major role in keeping your home cool. If you live in a place that gets cooler at night, be sure to crack open your windows when the sun goes down. On a breezy day, it’s a great idea to open your windows and let some of the wind come inside of your home. With the right retractable window awnings, shade will provide cooler air coming in and thus reduce the need for your A/C to run constantly. In addition, closing your blinds is extremely helpful during the summer. Research has shown that as much as 30 percent of heat comes into your home from windows. Therefore, using something like a high-quality retractable screen will serve to lower the temperature inside of the home. Carefully planning the use of your windows and blinds is critical to keeping your home comfortable during the summer.

Cook Strategically

Cooking outside during the summer is a fun way to enjoy the outdoors. However, it also plays an important role in keeping your home cool. Using the oven or stove during the summer will make your home much warmer and if you’re avoiding using the A/C this presents a problem. To combat the summer heat, use your grill and get creative with meals like grilled pizza, fish, and vegetables. If you must use the oven, be sure to turn on the fan afterwards to keep the airflow circulating.

Avoid “Vampire Power”

While wasted energy won’t make your home cooler, it will increase the electric bills that you’re trying to keep low. “Vampire power”, also called standby power, refers to power that is consumed by an appliance or device that is not in use but is plugged in. Electronics can drain your home of energy even when they are turned off. The solution to avoiding vampire power is to use things like surge protectors or outlets connected to wall switches. As a result, power will not drain and your energy bills will remain low.

Insulate Your Home

Air leaks throughout your home can cause cool air to exit the house. While adding insulation can be costly initially, you will lower your energy bills in the long-run. Keeping your home cool with proper insulation will avoid the need to use your A/C. Simple things like sealing off your air leaks throughout the home will have an immediate effect. Also consider buying insulated window films to keep the inside temperature cool. The more insulation that you have throughout the home, the cooler your entire indoor space will be.

Is your home equipped to handle the summer heat without constantly using your A/C? With the proper steps, you can greatly reduce your energy bills this season. Contact our experts in the USA or Canada toll free at 866-438-2964 or outside the USA or Canada at (305) 628-2424 or use the live help chat tool for more information on keeping your home cool with retractable window awnings and screens!