In the hot summer months in Arizona, you will surely be using your air conditioning every day. No one here looks forward to the utility bills that come with every day A/C use but there’s no way to get around using your cooling system throughout the summer on a daily basis. Therefore, in order to keep your utility bills manageable, it’s smart to look at other things you can do to help keep your home as cool as possible without turning your thermostat down so low that it raises your bills.
Looking at your windows and seeing if they are “dressed” well to keep your home cool is a great place to start. It is something very simple but can make a difference for you and you’re A/C use. Do you utilize shades, blinds, curtains and drapes, reflective window films and awnings in your home?
- Shades – Mount them as close to the glass as possible within the window frame, creating a sealed space and keep them drawn all day while at work and school.
- Blinds – According to the Dept. of Energy (DOE), when your blinds are completely closed, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45 percent. There is some flexibility to control light and ventilation by adjusting the slats, although it is more difficult to control heat gain with blinds vs. shades.
- Awnings – According to the DOE, you can reduce solar heat gain by 66%-75% (south-facing windows and west-facing windows, respectively) with window awnings. Light color awnings reflect sunlight best. And in the winter, you can retract the awnings to do the opposite and help gain heat by letting the sunlight in the windows.
- Curtains and drapes – Heat gain can be reduced as much as 33% with medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings, according to the DOE. As with blinds, hang the curtains as close to the window as possible.
- Reflective window films – This is a great way to allow the light in and keep the heat out. Added benefits are helping to prevent fading of your furnishings, and reducing the harmful UV rays from the sun.
Window coverings combined with other steps – keeping doors closed, using a programmable thermostat and utilizing ceiling fans can all help with reducing energy bills while keeping your home as cool as you like it to be. These are all simple steps and everyone can do it!
For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040
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