If you spent winter in Texas wondering when it was going to get cold, you’re not alone. It’s been hot everywhere, experts say, making it difficult to stay cool. 2016 was the hottest year on record worldwide. And it was the third year in a row to claim that title.
So far, 2017 is on track to be another sizzler, soon to climax with the heat of summer. And if you’re from Texas, you know this time of year can be hotter than a stolen tamale.
But there are some simple ways to stay cool and save money at home this summer. So, let’s examine a few.
Flip the switch. If you’ve got ceiling fans in your home, make sure they’re set to spin counter clockwise in the summer. This forces air downward, creating a nice breeze in your home and helping you stay cool. Most fans are equipped to do this. And it’s usually as easy as flicking a switch on the base of the fan. When temperatures cool down later in the year, reverse the spin, and you’re fan will draw air up and help distribute warmth throughout your home. This method is sure to help you save on heating and cooling costs.
The light of day. Windows can be a huge energy drain, especially when they’re old and drafty. And replacing them with new ones can be costly. But there are other options that can help keep the heat (and cold) at bay. One relatively cheap solution to consider is window film. This clear coating gets applied to windows and sliding glass doors and works by reflecting solar rays away from the home. This helps keep a house cooler in the summer. And when it’s cold out, the coating is able to absorb solar heat and radiate it back into the home.
Light years behind. Scrap those old incandescent lightbulbs and replace them with compact fluorescent or LED lightbulbs. You’ll not only use less energy, which will save you money and do all kinds of good stuff for the planet, but your house will also be cooler. Incandescent lightbulbs only convert 5 percent of the electricity they use into light. The rest is lost in heat. Energy-efficient lightbulbs can use up to 80 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. And they can last up to 25 times longer.
