August can be one of the hottest months in Kentucky and when coupled with 80% humidity levels, your house can heat up fast. If you haven’t noticed yet, we like to stay on top of the current design trends and tech features to enhance your homes. If you are finding it is hard for your home to keep cool, try these tips on how to stay cool inside during the hottest summer months.
How to keep your home cool
Technology is everywhere and it will begin entering our homes in new ways. Like smart windows that use sensors to automatically adjust shading to keep you cool inside, conserve energy, and save your hard earned money. Roofs can now be coated with pigment that reflects sunlight and absorb less heat. There are numerous methods to keep your home cool, be more energy efficient, and save you money. These are a few highlights:
- Shade trees: a study was conducted to track savings and test best placement for shade trees. They found that when trees are planted on the west side of the house, summertime carbon emissions can be reduced overtime.
- Invest in proper insulation: it is a common misconception that insulation only helps keep your house warm in winter, but insulation also acts to help keep the heat out and cool air in during summer. The more insulation your house has means the less air leaks it will have.
- Blackout curtains: when used in late afternoon, on the west side of your house, neutral colored blackout curtains can help cool your home.
- Cotton sheets: best for summer time because the fabric breathes easier and keeps you cooler while you sleep.
- Utilize bathroom and kitchen fans: both pull the heat that rises from cooking and showering out of your home.
- Get an attic fan: your attic can contain some of the hottest air in the summer, but using an attic fan gets the air moving and helps cool the top floors of your home.
- Cookout: avoid heating up your home when using the stove. Take dinner outside for grilling.
The importance of keeping your home cool
Temperature actually has a lot of effect on your health and overall productivity. The Ohio Valley Region is considered one of the allergy capitals in the nation and can cause allergy symptoms that make it difficult to breathe. Maintaining a controlled environment inside may help reduce the symptoms of living in the Ohio Valley and the constant weather changes.
Temperature also plays a key role in sleep. The ideal temperature for quality sleep lies on the cooler side between 68-72 degrees. If you find it is hard to sleep because you’re too warm or too cold, play with the thermostat until you find the perfect temperature for a restful night’s sleep.
Our architectural design services can help you design a home that stays cool in the summer, and include:
- Hand-drawn color renderings
- Floor plans
- Roof plan
- Site plan
- Elevations
- 3D views
- Wall sections
- Door and window schedules
- Specifications
We hope these suggestions help keep your home cooler and keep you and your family happy and healthy. If you are considering adding onto your home, remodeling, or building a custom home, we offer free consultations for design and building assessments.
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