Prepare for Summer:
Summer is here, and if you want your home to be cool during the months of relentless heat, you have to be prepared. Using air conditioning is an alternative; however, it can skyrocket your electricity bill in the blink of an eye. Luckily, there are a few tricks you can implement to lower the temperature inside your home without cranking the AC.
Close the Curtains
It may be hard to believe, but around 30% of the heat that drives you crazy during the summer enters the house through the windows. It may not seem like much, but that’s enough to increase the temperature over 10 degrees. A simple way to solve the problem is by installing shutters. Curtains and shades also do a pretty good job in blocking the direct sunlight that heats up your home. Ideally, you should use thick white curtains that can reflect most of the light spectrum keeping the area cool.
Replace the Sheets
If you think you can sleep well during summer using your winter sheets, you are wrong. Summer doesn’t tolerate flannel and fleece sheets. Your body will be drenched in sweat every night unless you change them. The sheets that you want are made of natural and breathable fabrics such as cotton and bamboo. They will keep you dry and fresh for a comfortable slumber.
Set the Ceiling Fans Rotation
Unless you want to feel like you are inside an oven, you should change the rotation of ceiling fans during summer. Set them to rotate counter-clockwise at high speed. Once you adjust the rotation, you will feel a relaxing, cooling breeze.
Change the Light Bulbs
If you are using incandescent light bulbs, you must change them at once. They not only generate an astonishing amount of heat but also boost your electric bill. Instead, use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). CFLs and LEDs have a life span several times those of incandescent bulbs and consume way less power.
Summer doesn’t mean you have to live in front of a fan or spend hundreds of dollars on the electricity bill. Closing the curtains, replacing the sheets, setting the rotation of ceiling fans and changing the light bulbs are easy enough for anyone to do and don’t require a massive investment. These techniques will allow you to stave off part of the summer heat and even save money. Try them, and you will be surprised at the results.
