Summer-Proof your Home

• Posted on July 20, 2015

Summer may seem like an easier time for your home. Without the fear of snow or having to heat your house, you may wonder what you have to worry about. Rising temperatures might make you sweat, but the thought of a large energy bill should not. You have heard of winterizing your home, now consider these ways to summer-proof it.

• Assess the State of Your Home

Before making any major changes to your house, it is smart to conduct an energy audit. This simple procedure can be done on your own or with the help of a professional. An energy audit will show you exactly how much energy you are using, as well as what appliances or areas are using energy. By looking at your list, you can determine where you want to begin making changes to lower your energy bill this summer.

Another good practice is to take a walk around your home and check to see if there are any noticeable gaps that may allow cool air to escape, while letting warm outside air in. Minimizing drafts can save you between 5% and 30% on your energy bill according to the EPA. Here are a few common areas where gaps or cracks can be found.

• Foundation line
• Gaps around doors and windows
• Joints and corners of your house

2. Check your Windows

Windows are without a doubt an important part of any home. However, if you are using air conditioning to cool your home instead of a breeze through an open window, they can be a burden on your energy bill. Consider these characteristics when choosing your next replacement windows.

• The number of panes – single pane windows unfortunately leak a large amount of air. Replacing these windows with double, or even triple, pane windows can increase the increase the insulation quality of the windows significantly.
• Window insulation – Argon, Krypton, and Xenon are all invisible gasses that are more dense than air. Because of the density of these gasses, if you put them between window panes you will increase the insulation of the window while not ruining the view.

3. Choose the Right AC Unit

Upgrading your old air conditioning unit to one of the new, more energy efficient ones is an obvious way to save money on your energy bill. When searching for this new unit, be sure to keep in mind the size of the space you are trying to cool. Buying a large air conditioner is not only more expensive initially, but may be bigger than what you need, which will waste energy. On the other hand, purchasing one that is too small will cause the unit to work too hard to cool the space, raising the bill.

Planting trees to provide clean air and shade, keeping blinds open allowing sunlight to illuminate your home, and installing solar panels are just a few other ways to save money on your energy bill. With these easy to implement tips, summer-proofing your house will be a breeze.