Innovative Ways To Adapt Your Home For Warmer Temperatures
In the USA, it’s common for many homeowners to prepare for all eventualities, but as the world gets warmer, we need to focus on ensuring that we’re ready for hotter summers and higher temperatures.
Summers were hotter than ever this year, and that trend looks set to continue into the future as climate change causes increased instances of extreme weather.
Here are some of the indicators that can help you understand everything about the climate change:
- In the United States, since the year, 1998, the population has experienced nine out of ten warmest years.
- The summer heat waves are more frequent than before, and they stay for a more extended period.
- Some areas have experienced more extraordinary wildfires as well as drought due to the lack of precipitation. On the other hand, some other regions have been flooding due to excessive rainfall and snowmelt.
Thus, keeping the house cool in extreme heat has become a prevalent factor for many Americans.
The Most Innovative Ways Of Keeping House Cool In Extreme Heat
Wherever you are in the USA, you’ll find that temperatures will be slowly rising over the coming years. Your summers will get hotter. So, you’ll need to make sure that you’re ready, and that means preparing your home.
Many homeowners might already have basics like AC units and outdoor furniture. You need to think about other solutions that will help you prepare for extreme heat and warmer summers.
It’s easy to focus on keeping your home warm over the winter months, particularly with rising energy prices. However, staying comfortable during the warmer months is equally vital for your health, well-being, and happiness.
To help you and your family stay calm, we’ve put together a list of some of the innovative ways you can adapt your home to prepare for warmer temperatures before they arrive.
Wherever you are in the USA, you’ll find that temperatures will be slowly rising over the coming years, and your summers will get hotter. So, you’ll need to make sure that you’re ready, and that means preparing your home.
While many homeowners might already have basics like AC units and outdoor furniture, you need to think about other solutions that will help you to prepare for extreme heat and warmer summers.
It’s easy to focus on keeping your home warm over the winter months, particularly with rising energy prices. However, staying comfortable during the warmer months is equally vital for your health, well-being, and happiness.
To help you and your family stay cool, we’ve put together a list of some of the innovative ways you can adapt your home to prepare for warmer temperatures before they arrive.
1. Install Retractable Screens
When it’s hot, it’s tempting to keep your windows wide open, but this can cause privacy and safety issues, particularly if you have kids or pets.
Retractable screens allow you to keep everyone safe and allow you to sit in the cooler air without worrying about the heat from the sun.
This innovative technology creates a cooler environment in your home and can be fitted over windows, patio entrances, porches, and more. Explore retractable screen options from specialist provider Marygrove Awnings to find the one that suits your home and will keep it cool and comfortable on hot days.
2. Insulate Your Home
Insulation is not only useful in the winter; in the summer, insulation can help to keep the cool air in your home, meaning you won’t have to run your AC so often and at such low a temperature. You can then adjust your settings to save energy and, therefore, money.
So, if your home isn’t well-insulated, now could be a great time to invest in new insulation solutions for your property. These solutions will protect your home all year round, so they’re worth spending money on. It might be expensive, but it will give you a lot of value and be useful for keeping your home cool or hot.
3. Service Your AC More Often
Your AC unit will be used more often as the temperatures rise, so it’s wise to prepare now and set up a schedule to have it serviced more regularly.
You can check it yourself quickly every few weeks, but you should also get a professional to give it a real review and check that the unit is working effectively.
While this might seem expensive, it will be worth the money and effort, as you will be able to improve the lifespan and function of your air conditioner.
You’ll also be able to ensure that it circulates clean air and not dust particles if you change the filter regularly. You can do this task yourself and keep a stack of AC filters on hand in case you need them.
It’s easy to focus on keeping your home warm over the winter months
4. Consider An AC Upgrade
For homeowners with older AC units, an upgrade might be called for now that we know that temperatures are rising across the country and around the world. Consider a newer unit that is more efficient and effective to ensure that you can keep cool whenever the weather gets warmer.
Also, you might want to think about adding extra AC units to provide more power and give you a better distribution of cool air throughout your home.
There are many types of AC units on the market, so you might want to consider choosing a different one to upgrade your home and ensure it stays cooler for longer. Now is the ideal time to think about your AC set-up before the temperature starts to rise regularly and get significantly hotter.
5. Add Ceiling Fans To More Rooms
Ceiling fans are common in many American homes, usually in communal rooms or spaces where you spend a lot of time, such as bedrooms and living areas. If you don’t have a ceiling fan in every room in your home, then you might want to consider adding one, so that every room is cool and has good airflow.
Also, if your ceiling fans are old and don’t work effectively, then you might want to think about upgrading them to ensure that they’re effective in time for the next hot spell. Ceiling fans come in a range of styles, so you can find one that suits your home’s aesthetic and will give you the look and function that you expect.
6. Choose Breathable Fabrics For Soft Furnishings
It might sound simple, but choosing breathable fabrics for your soft furnishings can make a major difference to your comfort level during the heat. Consider fabrics such as cotton, which can be cooling and breathable when you’re sitting on them.
Use them for sofa, armchair and cushion covers to keep you cool while you sit back and relax. These fabrics will be cooler to the touch than heavier options such as wool. You can also choose lighter curtains for the summer, and then your rooms will feel less stuffy and hot.
7. Keeping Your Home Cool: A Brief Summary
Staying cool during the hotter weather is crucial, as your body starts to change in extreme heat. This can cause health issues. More and more of us are spending increasing amounts of time in our homes working from them. As a result, it’s now more critical than ever before that we have properties that can keep us cool during extreme temperature increases.
For those with young children or pets at home, the need to stay cool is even more urgent. These upgrades can help you to adapt to rising global temperatures and ensure that you and your loved ones are always cool and able to enjoy your home.
Increase Shade
Shade is one of the most crucial things in keeping the house cool in extreme heat. You can consider planting some fast-growing trees and shrubs that can provide you with enough shade.
You must also look for the native plants, that can possibly survive in the extreme heat. Now, if you have trees already that provide you with enough shade, then you must take care of them during the heat waves.
Just 1℃ more!!
If you are using your air conditioner, in that case, try to set the thermostat to between 24-27℃ or higher! Whatever you are comfortable with. Now, increase your thermostat by one degree Celsius during the warm weather. This can help you to reduce the cost of your appliance by almost 10 percent.
Chill Out, Not Chill On
Keep siping icy-cold drinks and apply a damp cloth to your pressure points and neck, as well as other parts of your body. You can also take a cold shower. This way, you won’t have to switch on the air conditioner that much!
Choose cotton
The cotton fabrics are super breathable. You can choose light-coloured cotton curtains or bed sheets. This will help to keep a flowy and airy atmosphere even during the heatwaves.
Designing A House for Hot and Humid Weather
Keeping the house cool in extreme heat also requires making changes in designing the house. Here are the things that you can consider:
Orientation
It would be best if the house could be oriented to prevent direct exposure to the sun. If possible, face the longer walls toward the north and south, minimizing heat gain from the east and west. This will reduce direct sun entry into the house at the hottest time of day.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation is essential in hot, humid climates. Place windows and doors strategically to allow a cool breeze to pass through the house. High ceilings and vents near the roof also work together to increase airflow and assist in the expulsion of hot air.
Courtyards
Including an interior courtyard or an open area in the design will help to encourage airflow. It can provide outdoor living areas that are shaded and cooler. This also offers natural light without intense sun exposure.
Roofs
Opt for roofs that reflect sunlight, such as light-colored, reflective roofing materials. Consider incorporating overhangs or shading devices to minimize direct sunlight on the roof and walls, reducing indoor temperatures. Green roofs can also be a solution, providing insulation and cooling through plant coverage.
Materials
Use materials with high thermal mass, which includes concrete, brick, or stone, which absorb heat during the day and release it at night. This helps in maintaining a more even indoor temperature. In addition, natural, breathable materials such as bamboo or timber may also help control indoor humidity.
Wrapping It Up!
In order to effectively cool your home during extreme heat, you must prioritize the shade. Along with it, you also need better ventilation, as well as insulation. You can also opt for a natural cooling method, such as open windows, reflective surfaces and lastly, cross ventilation.
Moreover, you can also consider various energy-efficient appliances. You can further adjust your lifestyle to minimize the heat generation in your room.
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