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Cost Efficient Methods to Keep Your Home Cool With Less A/C

Air conditioning systems are often necessary, especially if you live in parts of the country that reach the triple digits during the summer. However, A/C units also consume plenty of energy, and if you want to make your home more eco-friendly, it’s worth looking at alternatives to keep you and your family cool this summer.

Is it possible to find a cost-efficient method to keep your home cool without A/C, or at least with less of it? Yes, it is!

Improve Your Insulation 

A poorly insulated home is one of the most common causes of an uncomfortable temperature in the home. While new properties have effective insulation, older homes may not possess these benefits, meaning it gets too hot in the summer and far too cold during the winter. 

Working with a roofing and window contractor can improve your insulation problem. Good insulation will trap the cool air inside the house and prevent warm air from getting inside. This makes your home more comfortable.

Use Blackout Curtains 

Blackout curtains provide similar insulation benefits as they do not allow the harsh UV rays and heat to get into your home. They are ideal for areas where the mornings and evenings are hottest and make it difficult to sleep. 

There are plenty of additional benefits to blackout curtains. They can block out noise and improve your overall sleep, as you won’t be disturbed as much by outside lights or noise. Blackout curtains are also beneficial in the winter, as they can trap warm air just as easily as they trap cool air in the summer. 

Use Large Appliances At Night

If you’re someone who loves to bake or has an endless pile of laundry to get through, you may not think about the best time to do it. But, the optimal time to use appliances such as your oven or washing machine is during the evening. 

If you use them during the day, the machines will expel heat that will gradually warm your home. It might not seem noticeable, but just a few degrees difference can affect your comfort. In energy-efficient terms, using appliances at night is often cheaper, too. 

Plant Vines 

Plants on window trellises work like awnings, but they are cheaper to install and easier to maintain.  With window trellises, you can grow plants in containers or the ground below your windows, and the plants will grow up over the trellises.

Your vines will produce shade and transpiration, which is a natural process that expels moisture and lowers the temperature around the wall. What’s more, vines draped around windows look amazing and add a touch of elegance to your home. You can trim them back if they become too thick or block out the sunlight entirely. 

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

As fun as the sunshine is during the summer, there are also times when it can be overwhelmingly hot. A home that’s too hot and uncomfortable can make it hard to focus or even sleep. With the cost-efficient methods above, you can do a bit more to keep your home cool throughout the year. 

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