The weather is starting to heat up – fast! Every year, people seem to be unprepared to withstand the warmth of the summer season. As the temperature rises, many people turn to their air conditioner and pray that it can keep them cool enough in order to survive.
But relying on air conditioning can make your utility bills skyrocket. Worse, it’s bad for the environment. The more you use your AC, the worse rge climate situation is gonna get.
What if your house can be designed to, not just protect you from the harmful rays of the sun, but keep you cool throughout summer? Below are some design tips you can use to help keep your indoor air nice and breezy.
It All Depends on the Roof
Your residential roofing can determine how hot your home can become. If you have tile, metal, or dark roofs, expect your house to heat up faster than ever before.
To keep the heat out, opt for clay tiles that are lighter in color or white-colored metals instead of pitch-black ones. For roofs that are not exposed to sunlight directly, you can also use foam panels with insulation infused into them.
If you have metal or tile, you can still improve the regulation of the internal temperature of your house by using the right types of insulation. The idea is to protect your house against high temperatures while still allowing cool air to flow in.
The Walls are Your Friend
After checking on the roofing materials of your home, don’t forget about the exterior walls! Those exterior walls should be built using light colors like white and cream tones so they won’t absorb as much sun’s energy compared to darker wall shades like browns and reds. Not only do these shades absorb more sunlight but they might even make your home hotter.
If you are concerned about appearance, opt for light pastel shades of exterior paint instead of deep colors. The lighter the color, the better it is to make sure your house will not retain too much heat during summer. You can also use dark colors on upper or non-exposed areas of your exterior wall to improve insulation. Paint those darker areas with darker shades but still in cooler hues like blues and greens.
You can also create a living wall on the exterior of your house. This creates an additional layer that will cover your home from the heat of the sun. Plus, a living wall, which is basically a vertical garden, has the capacity to cool its environment.
Strategically Place Windows
By strategically placing your windows, you can also help your home stay cool during summer. For example, if you are building a house in an area that gets too much sun exposure all day long, don’t place large windows on the western or southern side of your house. You might end up trapping more heat inside the rooms of your home. Instead, you should focus on the less sunny sides of your property and put larger windows there instead.
In addition, you should install awnings over windows to keep them out of direct sunlight. Awnings usually come in retractable types which you can open and close at your discretion depending on what is most comfortable for you. You can also reduce the solar energy getting into your house by using tinted glass instead of clear ones.
Let There Be That Breeze
One mistake people make is that they don’t provide enough ventilation for their homes when the weather gets hotter – insulation is fine but you have to also consider your ventilation options.
You need to maximize natural ventilation in your home by making sure there are openings for air to flow through. For example, if you have windows on the eastern or southern side of your house, place screens over them so the breeze can enter. You should also provide cross-ventilation which is the movement of fresh air throughout your rooms – this creates that nice cooling effect during summer.
If you want more circulation without opening up all of your windows, install ceiling fans and vents with adjustable speeds. Ceiling fans help circulate cooler air from higher up while vents allow for the proper regulation of hot air inside a room.
In conclusion, if you want to keep your home cool this summer without spending money on an AC, there are a variety of ways that you can do it. This article has provided some helpful suggestions for how to design your house so it stays cooler during the hot months. With these tips and tricks in mind, chances are that you’ll be able to help your property stay comfortable and liveable all year round!
