Summer is here! For those who love to stay at home with the AC on but would like to find cheap, easy ways to keep your home cool, window treatments are one of the few efficient and effective ways to keep your home cool while reducing your energy bill. Here's some quick tips:
Keeping the heat out: Allowing sunlight into your home brings unwanted summer heat and makes it harder to keep it cooler indoors. An important tip is to close and cover your windows (shades, blinds, drapes, etc.) early to block out the summer heat. Don’t wait until it gets hot. These simple steps will make your home a lot cooler even without an air conditioner.
Daylighting: Summer days mean longer days. Daylighting is a great way to save energy during the day, by reducing the use of artificial light and maximizing use of natural light. Daylighting depends on the climate and the design of the home. North-facing windows are the most effective for source of light while preventing summer heat. South-facing windows when properly shaded can provide the same benefits. East and west-facing windows are good source of light but admit a lot of heat.
Home Automation: Another practical and convenient option is to motorize your shades with options of timers and sensors. This is a perfect way to keep your home cool during the day when you are not home or when you want to cover your windows at specific times of the day. Motorized window treatments provide the same benefits as mentioned above while also eliminating the need to adjust heavy or hard-to-reach window coverings and eliminates dangerous cords, creating a safe environment for kids.
About the Author
Scot Dietz is the founder and president of 3 Blind Mice, a window covering company that offers innovative and quality products at affordable prices. Check out our website for additional window treatments!
