As June approaches Albuquerque soon and residents prepare for (undoubtedly) temperatures near triple digits again, now is the time for homeowners to utilize every resource at their disposal to keep cool. So let’s take a look at eight things homeowners can do to help keep their indoor temperatures down this summer.
1. Keep your blinds closed.
Up to thirty percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, so make use of blinds, shades, and curtains to save up to seven percent on your cooling costs and lower your indoor temperatures by up to twenty degrees. Using white or light-colored window treatments will help reflect away some of the light and heat as well. Further cooling enhancements can be made by using insulated window films.
2. Close off unused rooms.
This will obviously keep heat away from your living areas. And make sure your doors seal properly. Of course, if you have refrigerated AC, you should keep your windows closed anyway.
3. Let the night air in.
Many New Mexico summer nights are pleasant because of our typical low humidity. Cracking open windows on opposite sides of your house will create a cross breeze – even across considerable square footage. Enhance the effect with window fans. If you have evaporative AC, you should be keeping your windows cracked anyway, especially in heat-prone rooms.
4. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise.
And speaking of fans, by setting them counter-clockwise in the summer, the airflow produced will create a wind-cooling breeze effect that will help everyone feel more comfortable.
5. Utilize other fans.
Turning on bathroom fans to pull out steamy air and stove exhaust fans to pull out hot kitchen air can help as well. Just make sure you don’t overdo it by letting any cool air escape.
6. Eliminate incandescent lights.
You should only use energy-efficient CFLs. Incandescent bulbs waste about ninety percent of their energy in the heat they emit, so throwing them away will make a nice difference in your energy costs.
7. Cook wisely.
There are so many things you can do to minimize heat output with food preparation. Avoid the oven, especially during PM hours. Use a crock pot. Start grilling. Use the microwave whenever possible.
8. Make outside changes.
Adding awnings and planting trees or vines in front of or around light-facing windows will shield your home from the sun’s rays and reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs.
So by implementing just a few changes, you can help keep indoor temperatures down and your utility bill as well.
Do you have any summer cooling advice to add? Please leave them in the comments below.
And if you’re thinking about selling or buying a home in metro Albuquerque, be sure to contact me today!
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