Tips to Cool your Home without Wasting Energy | Glaze & Save
When we think of
energy efficiency, the first thing that comes to mind is how we can reduce our
heating bills and keep our homes toasty in a more resource efficient and
environmentally friendly; however, keeping your home cool can take just as much
of a toll on your energy consumption…even in a climate like Scotland! So while
we may not be sweltering in the summer sun just yet, here are ten top tips to
keep your home cool without wasting energy that you can put into practice
today.
1. Put the “wind” in window Take your window opening to the next level by creating a refreshing cool pressure current. Open your upstairs windows on the side of your house that is downwind and open downstairs windows on to side of your house which is upwind. Lower the temperature even more by hanging a cold wet sheet in front of the downwind window to create an even cooler breeze.
2. Switch up your lights We’ve said it before and we will again: changing your lightbulbs from the energy inefficient bulbs of old to low energy bills such as LED lighting not only saves you energy, it keeps you cooler. Old-style incandescent bulbs waste around 90% of their energy by producing heat. Not only does switching reduce your energy bills, it also keeps lit rooms cooler. And it goes without saying; never leave lights on in an empty room.
3. In fact, switch off completely Electronic equipment and appliances generate heat when they are left plugged in; just think about how hot your computer gets! Make sure that all electronic equipment is unplugged when not in use to get an overall cooling effect, while saving energy and money!
4. Turn a blind eye It may seem counter intuitive, after all we often associated drawing curtains or blinds with wrapping up against chilly nights, but closing your blinds or curtains can help reduce the unwanted heat that comes through your windows. According to Family Handyman, s simple as this tip may seem, closing curtains and blinds can save you up to 7% on your energy bills all while lowering the temperature.
5.
Better yet,
invest in InvisiTherm
While InvisiTherm is great at retaining the heat that you want, it also rejects
around 27% of external sun rays, keeping your home cooler in the summer and
warmer in the winter.
6. Show rising temperatures the door Don’t cool your whole house if you’re only using one or two rooms. Closing the doors to unused rooms will prevent cold air from being wasted in these rooms.
7. Cool yourself, not your house So far all of our tips have focused on changes that will cool your surroundings. But the most effective way to cool down is by cooling yourself! Consume iced drinks, wear light clothing made from natural fabrics, and make good use of wet cloths (or even ice cubes) placed on necks, wrists and foreheads.
8. Signed, sealed, delivered Just as leaky doors and windows create problems in the winter, uncontrolled air flow can also cause problems in the warmers months. Using a draught proofing product such as InvisiSeal around doors and windows, caulking any other cracks, and plugging up spaces around pipes and power outlets with foam all works to stop hot air from entering and cool air leaving your home. Bonus: your home will be winter-ready with no extra effort.
9. Windows on the world Heat enters your home through its windows, and if those windows are single-glazed, low quality double glazing, or even if you have old glass secondary glazing, the intensity of heat magnified by glass can be unbearable. If InvisiTherm secondary glazing isn’t for you, perhaps consider solar-control window film. This works by creating a barrier that rejects the sun’s rays, in varying different strengths. Glaze & Save offers a fully installed window film service with InvisiFilm.
10. Be a fan of fans It may come to it that natural air flow just isn’t enough for you, and for that you’ll need a fan. Remember: fans cool people not rooms, so don’t be so quick to jump on an electric option. Hand fans can be exceptionally effective at cooling, creating air motion that helps evaporate sweat on our skin and reduce body heat. But if it simply must be electric, be sure to set fans up in the direction of the occupants in the room to get maximum benefit from it.
Glaze & Save isn’t just for winter! InvisiTherm, InvisiSeal and InvisiFilm have exceptional solar, air flow control and heat rejection qualities that are just as valuable in the summer. Contact us hereto arrange your free no obligation survey!
