Beat the Heat Using Your Windows

The summer is just getting started and it is as hot as ever.  Staying cool and avoiding the heat is a main priority during the summer months.  So is conserving energy and staying green.  Here are 5 ways you can use your windows to beat the summer heat, keep your monthly energy bills low and stay green. 

1.    Stay Shaded - Perhaps the most obvious way to conserve energy and keep your home cool during the summer is to shut the shades and blinds during the day.  This eliminates the sun’s hot rays from entering the home and warming the interior.  This is perhaps the easiest way to prevent heat from coming into the house during the day.

 

 

2.    Let fresh air in - While keeping windows shut during the day prevents hot air from flowing directly into the room, it is important to keep the air in your home fresh.  Opening windows at night when the temperature outside begins to cool off and enter the mid-70’s and the humidity is 60 percent or less, will help circulate the air in your house.  During the day it is good to open windows in a breezy shady area of the house, as well as another window on the top floor and on the opposite side of the house. This helps control the air flow throughout the home as the cooler air will come in through the bottom windows and the hot air will escape out the top window.

 

 

3.    The Screening Process - Running the air conditioning can be costly and uses up a good amount of energy.  Using solar screens allows you to open your windows and not have to worry about the hot air coming in.  Solar screens can reflect and absorb 80-90 percent of the sun’s heat and glare.  Therefore, less heat is entering the house and yet a steady air flow can still be established. Screens act as sunglasses for your home, they reflect the light but outward visibility is maintained. 

 

 

4.    Block Air Leaks - Weatherstripping your windows add insulation to your home and prevent cool air from leaking out.  While it may not be that noticeable, cool air escapes through the tiny crack between windows and doors.  By sealing these tiny gaps you will greatly save money on monthly bills as well as energy.  You can either pay someone to come in and do it for you, of you can purchase a kit and do it yourself.  The process is simple and easy to do and will help you in both the summer and winter months.

 

 5.    Doubel it Up- Double glazing your windows is a great way to conserve energy in both the summer as well as the winter.  The space between the two panes of glass traps air, preventing hot air from coming in during the summer. In the winter, the space stops heat from escaping your house.  Double glazing windows will help keep the thermostat at a steady level as well as save on energy costs.  If you don’t want to pay to double glaze every window, pick a few that have the most exposure to the sunlight.  Windows that are facing south and west are typically the ones when the sun shines the brightest.