Our Southern Canadian climate makes it essential to cool and warm our homes seasonally, but at what price? LEED, passive, small and eco homes are increasingly common and more accessible than ever, but for those of us with standard R-values and insulation, every effort can help make our homes more energy efficient. To help reduce those fluctuating energy bills and the constant humming of the AC, read on below for some cooling tips.
01. Circulation is vital
Since temperatures drop at night in the summer, I make sure to keep windows open overnight to let the early summer morning breeze in. You want to catch that sweet spot around 4 to 8 in the morning and between 8 to 10 in the evenings. At these times you should open windows strategically to enable cross ventilation.
02. Cooking al fresco
Oven cooking dinner is not only hot for the chef, but it also warms up the entire house. Take that heat out of the kitchen and into the garden. There's a certain beauty to the simplicity of outdoor grilling. Don't let comfort stop you from expanding your cooking skills; dutch ovens, fire and tagine cooking are great ways to change up dinners. The bbq is also the quickest way to cook a pizza! Batch cooking can be helpful if you don’t have access to outdoor dining space.
03. Shield from the heat
Unwanted heat mainly enters the house through windows. Curtains and blinds can help overcome daytime temperature increases. Remember to shift your window coverings in tandem with opening and closing your windows morning and night.
Are your windows too large? Try placing a freestanding screen in a strategic position to create a cool shadow.
04. Keep the humidity at bay
The primary purpose of a dehumidifier is to remove moisture from the air, doing this lowers the overall room temperature creating a comfortable environment. Like plants — dehumidifiers also remove environmental hazards (dust, grime, pet dander) from any room and protect valuables that can be damaged by moisture.
05. Flower power
Did you know houseplants can help dehumidify and cool your home? Get this - they also remove pollutants from the air and have a high transpiration rate. Read up on air-filtering houseplants here.
06. Sleep easy
My partner first introduced me to Egyptian cotton bedding and my sleep life has never been better. Every night feels like a luxury hotel stay. Putting aside thread count, the secret ingredient is natural fabrics. Light-coloured bed linens and breathable materials like linen or cotton are recommended when selecting your bedding.
07. Alternative fan rotation
Guess what? Your ceiling fan has the ability to run counter-clockwise, this pushes air down and creates a breeze. This may seem like common knowledge, but most of us don't utilize the alternative rotation seasonally. You can also use your furnace fan to push cool air up from your basement if you have the option. Game changer.
Have you tried any of the above? How are you keeping your home cool?
Share your thoughts or energy-efficient tips below.