This summer is extremely hot and it can be a challenge to stay cool during the day. If you don’t want to over-use the air conditioner, you’ll have to find some environmentally friendly solutions to stay cool while you keep your home green.
Whether you’re searching for expert AC installation or want to know how to keep your unit functioning well without using too much energy, here are some tips to keep you and your family comfortable this summer. Here are some tips for getting a cool breeze in the warm weather while caring for the environment.
Use Your Windows
It’s essential to know how to use your windows to keep your home green and cool. You can use curtains to help regulate the temperature in the house. Choose insulating curtains so you can repel heat in the summer. These curtains can also retain heat during the colder months of the year.
Open your windows in the summer to create a breeze throughout the house. It’s best to open the top of one window and the bottom of an adjacent or additional window in the room to feel a cross breeze. Open the windows in the morning, since the air is still cool during this time of day.
Pay Attention to Window AC Units
If you have an AC unit in the window, you should know that air conditioners with a high EER rating will conserve more energy and therefore, keep your home green. Check the unit to ensure all cracks and crevices are sealed to keep cold air from escaping.
If you live in the Utah County area, contact a professional who specializes in AC installation Utah County to inspect your unit and ensure it’s functioning at its best.
Insulate the House
Proper insulation is essential, especially if your apartment or house is decades old, and can be very beneficial for keeping cool air in your residential space.
Make sure no air is seeping through your windows and doors — this can make you too cold in the winter and too warm in the summer. Ask a contractor to evaluate your home and start the sealing process for you.
If your home has an attic, this space could affect the energy efficiency of your home. Attics can become very cold or very hot depending on the season, so make sure space is insulated to regulate the temperature of this area of your home.
Keep Your Body Cool
When you consider ways to keep your home cool in summer, you may not think about cooling your body down. Here are a few things you can do to stay cool while saving energy and keep your home green:
- Eat and drink cold foods and beverages. Drink some ice water to lower your body temperature and continue drinking water throughout the day. You can also enjoy some sugar-free popsicles or low-sugar ice cream to stay cool and stick to your health goals. It’s also a good idea to eat chilled fruit, frozen yogurt, smoothies if you want to avoid getting too hot. Steer clear of cold beer or coffee. Even though these beverages sound refreshing, caffeine and alcohol dehydrate the body and make you warmer.
- Keep your skin cool. Run cool water over your pulse points a few times a day. Put a cool washcloth or towel across your forehead to lower your body temperature. You can also place a cold water bottle on your ankles or behind your knees to cool yourself down. Try this tip at night in bed so you can stay cool while you’re sleeping.
- Leave the house. This may be a little challenging these days, but if you’re still too hot after following the above tips and running the AC, you can visit the freezer aisle of your nearest grocery store or take a dip in your pool. If you don’t have a pool, ask a friend in your neighborhood if you can “borrow” the pool for a few hours.
Plant Trees
Your landscaping can help or hurt your efforts to stay cool this summer. If you don’t have natural shade around your home, direct sunlight is coming through your windows during the warmest times of the day.
Plant trees on the western and southern sides of your home to give you shade in the summer. Trees are also great for the environment and can offset the carbon emissions coming from your air conditioner. This is a great way to keep your home green.
Final Thoughts on How to Keep Your Home Green…
Use these tips so you can stay comfortable this summer without using too much energy and keep your home green too. By cooling the house naturally with open windows to a quick dip in the pool instead of using air conditioning you can stay cool and help the environment.
Do you have other ideas you can share to keep your home green this summer? Place your comments in the box below to help others learn how you keep your home green and they can try it too!