Cool Your Home Naturally

As the spring and summer heats up, there are a number of minor and inexpensive techniques that you can utilize in order to cool your home naturally. The most effective method is to keep the heat from building up in the first place. According to a report from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the primary source of heat buildup is sunlight absorbed by your house through the roof, walls, and windows. Secondary sources are heat generating appliances in the home and air leakage. Specific methods to prevent heat gain include reflecting heat away from your house, blocking the heat, removing built-up heat, and reducing or eliminating heat-generating sources in your home.

The following suggestions can help cool your home naturally, while cutting costs and conserving energy.

1) Install wall insulation

Air leaks can waste energy dollars year-round. By adding insulation around air conditioning ducts when they are located in un-air conditioned spaces such as attics, crawl spaces and garages, you’ll keep the cool air in and hot air out! Bonded Logic Inc. produces an environmentally safe brand of insulation that consists almost entirely of natural denim and cotton--reducing landfill waste, and conserving energy costs in your home at the same time.

2) Mount Exterior Window Awnings

Cotton canvas awnings can reduce heat gain up to 65% on southern windows and 77% on eastern windows. A light-colored awning does double duty by also reflecting sunlight.

3) Modify Your Landscape

If you own your home, you can cool your home naturally by planting a few trees in your yard. According to the US Department of Energy, “just three trees, properly placed around a house, can save between $100 and $250 annually in cooling and heating.”

4) Curtain Call

Help screen sunrays that shine directly into your home with a chic set of cotton curtains. Cotton window treatments are breathable enough to let air in, but provide enough barrier to reduce the heat in your home by 50%.

5) Get A Paint Job!

Although color isn’t as important on the inside of your home as it is on the outside, dull, dark-colored surfaces can transfer heat into your home by way of conduction. Light, bright walls absorb less heat, effectively reflecting most of the heat away from your home.

6) Make it a SureFit™

From sofas and love seats to sitting chairs and recliners, a cotton upholstery cover can help protect your furniture and make your family’s favorite piece of furniture more versatile. Not only will a cotton cover keep your furnishings looking fabulous, the fabrics texture can help you keep cool while sitting on your couch.

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