Summer is a fun season, often consisting of BBQs, beach vacations, and pool dips. While we all want to be outside in the sun, many of us suffer from the resulting exceedingly unprecedented high temperatures in Portland. Especially while attempting to keep newborns cool in hot weather and napping in the heat. We've all had those moments when you simply want to turn your house into a freezer and forget about your next quarter's electricity bill. However, it's crucial to keep in mind that the increased energy consumption involved with cooling houses in the summer adds to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
So here are 5 common ways to keep you and your house cool while saving money and the environment.
Open Windows and Balcony/Garden Doors in the Morning and at Night
It's recommended to open doors and windows first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon after the day's warmest phase has passed (which sometimes means early evening here in the Pacific Northwest). The key is to keep your home's air flowing. Did you know that air that is flowing is colder than air that is still? Consider the movement of a breeze through your home. Make sure you have windows open on opposing sides of your house with doors open in between to do this.
Turn off unused appliances
Other equipment around the house, such ovens, will create unwelcome heat in a home during the summer. Consider shutting off your television, computer, and kitchen appliances rather than leaving them on standby. This will prevent them from overheating and warming the rooms in which they are present.
Similarly, be cautious when charging devices such as your phone or tablet. These, too, emit heat, so charging them first thing in the morning when it's colder is a good idea. Also, don't charge them at night, especially if you're having trouble sleeping in the heat.
Adjust Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans may appear to pump hot air around your home rather than cool it down at times. You are correct — fans that do not rotate counter-clockwise may be doing just that!
In the summer, set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise to force air straight down, creating a cooling effect, and clockwise in the winter to pull cool air up. Set the fan speed to high when it's hot outside, and low when it's cold outside. Ceiling fans may also be used to complement other methods of cooling, so making sure they revolve in the right direction can make a big impact in your home's temperature.
Plant Foliage
Planting shade trees and greenery around your home will help prevent heat from seeping in through the windows and roof, though the return may take a few seasons, the end result is lovely!
Swap Sheets
Pure cotton sheets provide sensory advantages and are naturally breathable, so they help control your temperature and moisture levels as you sleep, preventing the clammy sensation that synthetic fibers can cause. Ditch the duvet, try sleeping just beneath a sheet. The lighter layer will keep you cooler overnight and prevent you from becoming too stuffy.
Even though the summer months are our golden months here in Oregon, the heat has been increasingly painful, especially for those without air conditioning. If the thought of spending another hot summer in your home is unbearable, we’d love to chat with you about buying your home. Contact us today!