|
Keep Cool Naturally
In Florida, air-conditioning accounts for one third of the electric bill! Keep your home naturally cool with these energy-saving green design tips.
1. Insulate, insulate, insulate.
Insulate your ceiling with up to ten inches of insulation to reduce your air-conditioning by 30%. Use blown-in insulation to fill forgotten spaces around pipes, chimneys, recessed lights and crawlspaces. Even old blankets or fabric scraps can work as low-cost insulators. When building or remodeling, install the highest R-value insulation appropriate to your needs.
Insulating Your Attic (Florida Power and Light)
2. Seal windows and doors
Up to 40% of heating and cooling is lost through windows and doors. If you can see daylight around a closed door, it |
 |
|
needs to be weather-stripped. Most windows and doors can be sealed with rope caulk. Seal fireplaces with tight-fitting dampers when not in use.
4. Block out summer sun
During the summer season, shade windows with opaque blinds, roman shades, quilts or even cardboard to reduce solar gain. Shade materials should cover ½ inch beyond the window frame. For ideal coverage, secure them using hook-and-eye closures, Velcro or duct tape. Install extended roof or window awnings to increase shade. Shutters will also work, but can detach and cause damage in high winds. Check out these techniques at the Florida House Learning Center.
Florida House Learning Center 4600 Beneva Road South, Sarasota 941-316-1200
5. Adopt cool colors
Paint the house a light color to reduce solar gain, and use light-colored roofing materials. A white roof covering can retrofit dark-colored roofs. Choose a light-colored driveway surface rather than black. Plant tall shrubbery and trees near a concrete driveway to cool it down or build a carport. Limit paved parking surfaces and use natural materials, such as mulch, for walkways.
6. Plant trees for passive cooling
Look at the situation of your home in respect to the path of the sun throughout the seasons. The southern exposure receives the most sun; east and west walls come next. Plant native shrubs and trees in these areas to increase shade and reduce heat and humidity. If you’re worried about reducing winter sunlight, plant deciduous trees or vines.
7. Take advantage of cool breezes
Cross-ventilate your home by opening windows on the north-northwest and south-southeast walls (cool fronts normally move from the northwest to the southeast in Florida). In two-story buildings, set up a fan facing out in an upper-story southern window and use it to pull air through the house from lower-story northern windows. If you use A/C during daylight hours, turn it off and open windows at night.
US Department of Energy Consumer Energy Information
8. Maintain air circulation
Install vents in the bottom of doors help to circulate air and reduce air-conditioning costs. Kitchens and bathrooms should have exhaust fans to dispense hot, humid air to the outside. Shut doors and turn thermostats off in rooms that do not need to be cooled.
9. Purchase an energy-efficient air-conditioning unit
Install an air-conditioning unit that fits your space and cooling needs, with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency (SEER) rating. Maintain your A/C by checking ductwork for leaks and replacing filters annually. If your home has a dual unit, locate the outside portion in a shady, cool area.
ENERGYSTAR Products
10. Turn down the A/C
During summer months, keep the thermostat setting on the highest comfortable temperature—at least 78°F. Always shut off lights, computers, TVs, and appliances. If you turn on the fans along with the air-conditioning, you can raise the thermostat two degrees. When you go out of the house, turn it up to about 85°F, or consider purchasing a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust indoor temperatures.
Learn more about how to maintain a green, efficient home with these ECO-Tips:
Design Your Green Home
|