Save Money Cooling Your Home | Energy Saving Tips

Can’t afford to upgrade to energy-efficient windows? Here are some cheaper strategies for using windows to cool your home.

Reduce Solar Heat Gain
Windows allow the sun to heat a home.  This is advantageous in the winter.  However, in the summer, this solar heat gain accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the average home’s cooling requirements.

• To reduce the amount of solar heat entering your home in the summer, keep blinds, drapes, and curtains closed — especially on the south and west sides of the home.

• White window coverings reflect heat better than dark-colored window coverings.  Heavy, tightly woven fabric insulates better than lightweight fabrics.

• Apply solar control window films to windows.  Visit the Window Film Information Center for information.

Open Windows
When the air temperature is cooler outside than it is inside, open the windows to cool the indoor temperature and to create air flow.  Opening the windows also improves indoor air quality.

• In climates with cool nights and hot days, open the windows in the evenings and at night to allow your home to cool.  During the day, the temperature in a well-insulated house will only rise 1° F if the outside temperature is 85 to 90° F. (Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.  Download a pdf of additional tips for cooling your home naturally here.)

• Open windows at the top and bottom levels of your house to generate more airflow.

• If your home is one-story, open windows on opposite sides of the house to create airflow across the home.

• If you live in an apartment or condo that has windows on one side only, use a fan to help create airflow.

• If you have an attic hatch, open it to allow heat to escape and to create airflow.  If you have an attic fan, turn it on.

To maximize your savings, compare local electric companies’ rates at Allconnect.com to make sure you’re paying the lowest available rate to run your air conditioner and cool your home.