Keep your home cool in the summer with correct home renovation
Summer is upon us again with its warmth and sunshine, giving us the quick shake to start thinking of home renovation and how to keep the home cool at this period in time. Putting central air in the home comes with its huge installation cost and is out of the question for many people in this season. There are some great home designs that can limit the use of the central air system in the home and keep everywhere cool. Some of the smart ways to renovate the home and enjoy the summer are as follow:
Orientate the house wisely
Having the windows face the south rather than west or east is a great option for home renovation during summer. Normally during the summer period, more sunlight comes into the house through the west or east-facing windows than through north or south-facing windows. With this strategy, the home benefits from the summer breezes while avoiding the flow of the sun.
Orientate the Window Glazing
Without having shades on the window, sunlight can still be controlled from streaming into the house by installing windows with different kinds of glass on the different orientation of the house. It makes much sense to use low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) glass, valued at 0.3 or lower for the east and west of the house while a high SHGC glass of 0.5 is ideal for the south wing of the home because it brings significant solar heat during the winter season.
Use Lined Shade on the windows
Another important home renovation idea is to use heavy shades for windows when the summer sun is much higher in the sky. Research has reported that keeping rooms shaded in summer can reduce the heat by about seven percent. In areas where overhangs on windows will not work for shading, especially on the east and west wings of the house, exterior roller screens, vertical louvers, planting, and operable awnings can offer effective shading for the house. This is actually an affordable option for home renovation.
Insulate the House
The wall and the roof are also inlets for unwanted heat in the house and not just the windows. Installing insulations in the house will go a long way in minimizing heat. It is also important to make the house airtight so that when there is a need to close up the house to keep the heat out, it will be possible.
Install Reflective Roof
A reflective roof with high emissivity helps to keep unwanted heat out of the house. When choosing roofing materials, it is important to choose materials certified by the Energy Star Roof Program and the Cool Roof Rating Council.
Use Thermal Mass
Installing thermal mass in the house, like plaster walls, a slate floor will help keep the interior of your house relatively cool during the day.
Install Ceiling Fan
If you live in the moderate climate zone and you want to save your money, ceiling fans are very important during the summer months, because they keep everyone cool by maximizing evaporation from the skin.
Having the fan ON will definitely keep you more comfortable during the hot summer season. In fact, home renovation cannot be overemphasized during the summer months, especially if you are conscious of how comfortable your home is during summer.
