When it gets hot inside the house, the solution seems simple: Just turn up the air conditioning. But you won’t need to dial it up quite as high – and suffer the spike in energy costs– if you’ve tackled some efficiency items first. Before turning up the A/C, make sure you’ve made it as easy as possible to keep the heat out.
This is especially important for older homes, which are less likely to have insulation and energy-saving windows installed, and more likely to have unsealed cracks and openings. But even newer buildings may lack simple efficiencies that can make a noticeable difference.
Whether it requires hiring a professional or a trip to the hardware store, you can take a lot of active steps to stay cool and keep energy costs in check. Here’s a checklist to consider for your home:
Insulation to Keep Your House Cool
This is the big one. Any cooling efforts you take will go much further if your home is properly insulated: The same materials that retain heat in the wintertime will also retain cooler air in the summer. If your attic space and walls are not insulated, for example, you can run your A/C full blast and still swelter in your home. Even an under-insulated home can be hard to cool, and may benefit from additional insulation.
What Do I Need to Know?
Some insulation projects can be do-it-yourself – but it’s often labor-intensive and time-consuming, and installation from non-experts can lead to money-losing gaps in the materials.
Research what type of insulation you need, and speak to a professional about how it should be installed. Blown-in cellulose insulation is a common, highly effective form of insulation, but you need to have your home properly inspected to ensure the process is safe. (Neeeco can be a one-stop resource for this – with a no-cost home energy assessment, you’ll be provided with a customized report for your home, which will recommend an insulation type that best fits your home’s needs.)
Air Sealing to Prevent Drafts
Finding and closing up leaks in your home can lower energy costs – and also keep out pests and moisture year-round. Small openings around doors, in the attic or basement, around chimneys or fireplace walls, garage walls, or even recessed lighting can leak air and make your home less comfortable. Taken altogether, leaks around these areas can add up to significant inefficiency.
Can I Do It Myself?
Depending on the location and type of leak, you can plug up nooks and crannies with caulk, spray foam, metal flashing, or weather stripping. Test for air leaks by closing windows, shutting off all HVAC systems, and walking around the house with a lit stick of incense. If the smoke moves while you’re standing still, you’ve likely got an air leak. Depending on how many you find – and whether they’re in hard-to-reach locations – you may need to call in a professional for help plugging leaks.
Energy-Efficient Windows
Once insulation and air sealing are working to retain cool air in your house, it’s time to look for other sources of air leakage. Older, single-paned windows are a key culprit in many houses, and you can solve this problem by replacing them with energy-saving double- or triple-paned windows. If an up-front investment of new windows is hard to manage, placing storm windows over your existing panes can still provide an efficiency boost that makes a difference.
What Are the Benefits?
New windows can be costly, ranging from $300-$2,500 per window. But they can save on energy costs, block outside noise very effectively, provide an aesthetic boost to your house, and make it generally much more comfortable. If you’ve considered window updates before but hesitated, now may be the right time to go for it.
Window Extras to Keep Out the Heat
Simple items around your windows can also make a noticeable difference and help your A/C do its job better:
- Install shutters or blackout window shades and keep them closed during the day, or at least when they’re in direct sunlight
- Install awnings over your windows to keep out direct sunlight and redirect radiant heat away from your home
- Put in a window garden box to absorb sunlight
What Do I Need to Know?
These steps can mostly be solved with a trip to the hardware store and some basic home installation know-how, but be sure to consider value and safety first – especially if you’re installing second-floor awnings or garden boxes.
High-Functioning Exhaust Fans
Well-maintained exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom will speedily remove heat and humidity. If these rooms tend to hang onto heat, humidity and odors, that’s a sign that your exhaust fans aren’t effective. You can also test whether your fans are working by putting a square of toilet paper up to the fan while it’s running – if the fan is strong enough to suck the square up and hold it against the vent, you’re in good shape. If it struggles to do so, you should clean the fan and motor or get a replacement.
Can I Replace This Myself?
You can replace your own motor/fan with a store-bought model, but you have to make sure it matches the one already in place. However, access to the vent makes all the difference here – in some cases, you won’t be able to easily access the unit and will likely benefit from professional help.
Plant a Tree - Or Some Groundcover Shrubs
One of the best things you can do to lower ambient temperatures is adding shade trees around your home. Trees can cool surrounding air temperatures by 6 degrees Fahrenheit, and as much as 25 degrees directly under the canopy. Even larger shrubs and bushes can shade the ground, reducing heat radiation and cooling the air around your home.
How to Choose What to Plant
Research which landscape shade options work best for your home. For example, you might not need a giant tree to accomplish a lot of cooling – you can get good shade just by planting a 6-foot deciduous tree on the western side of the building because it will block late-afternoon or evening sun very effectively. Talking to a landscaper can help you decide which variety of tree to plant, and where to safely plant it. Also: Check your local or state government (or climate advocacy organization) for programs that provide trees and can advise you on the best place to plant.
Ready to Beat the Heat?
Take steps now to make your home more efficient, and you won’t have to sweat your energy costs as the summer heats up. As a bonus, most of these steps come with other benefits, whether it’s comfort, quiet, lack of pests and mold, and improvements to your home’s aesthetic. Despite an up-front cost, it’s often well worth the effort.
Call (781) 776-5711 or contact us to schedule a no-cost home energy assessment and get your home summer-ready!