How to Design Your Home to Keep it Cool in the Summer

With record temperatures, keeping cool is not an easy feat. Sometimes the energy costs it takes to do so are not worth the comfort you get from it. However, there are ways you can increase the energy efficiency and comfort of your home during the summer. Design your home to keep cool in the summer by adding insulation, energy efficient windows and doors, and using climate smart landscaping.

Add Insulation

During the winter, insulation keeps the warm air inside your home. During the summer, it keeps the cool air in and the hot air out. The warm air and sunlight pounding on your roof and walls can be held at bay with proper insulation. According to Popular Science , building materials like metal, concrete, stone and brick are also great at acting as natural insulators. These materials have a higher capacity to store heat that would otherwise get transferred into the air inside the house. Investing in the right materials and insulation will significantly increase your home’s ability to remain cool during the summer.

Energy Efficient Windows and Doors

Today there are different types of window materials and positioning that help with energy efficiency in your home. Even if the windows are directly facing the sun, there are materials that can help with the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). According to Complete Dezign , window treatments can help block UV rays that make it difficult to keep your home cool. The same concept applies to doors. A well-insulated door with proper materials and windows can help regulate the temperature in your home leading to a more energy efficient lifestyle.

Climate Smart Landscaping

When it comes to the landscaping around your home, it can have an impact on the heat and comfortability not just on the outside, but the inside. For example, a shaded area is always cooler than one in direct sunlight. Designing areas of your landscaping that are cool and shaded can keep the temperature of your exterior and interior home down. According to Movoto , a shade focused strategy can reduce home cooling costs anywhere from 15 to 50 percent. Trees, grass, and pools go a long way in creating an enjoyable environment outside and in.

Beat the heat by making smart choices to keep your home cool in the summer. Add insulation, focus on energy efficient installations, and plan your landscaping to change the immediate climate around you. These will increase your comfort levels year round.

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