Hottest Summer On Record
In just one day last month, the US had more than 170 million people under heat advisories; 50 million of them under excessive heat warnings. This summer much of the US endured sweltering temperatures as the temperature around the continental US rose. Many faced maximum heat indexes (“feels like” temperature) of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. There wasn’t any relief at night, as temperatures in many places didn’t drop below 75. NOAA says that this summer was hotter than the Dust Bowl summer of 1936. Making the period from June through August this year, the hottest on record in the United States. Heatwaves are going to keep coming and, according to CNN, they’re getting hotter because of the climate crisis.
To find the Heat Index temperature, use the NWS Heat Index Chart above. An example, is the air temperature is 96°F and the relative humidity is 65%, the heat index–how hot it feels–is 121°F.
The Heat Is On!
If you were one of the unfortunate people who found yourself running your cooling system constantly and still not able to keep the house comfortable, the fact that temperatures won’t be as high as they were in the previous few months doesn’t mean that you don’t need to find ways to reduce your energy costs. If you found parts of your house unbearably hot or nearly had a stroke when you opened your light bill, you need to find a solution.
Seven Tips To Cool Your Home:
Often the problem largely lies with your windows allowing the sun’s harsh rays to heat up your house. A cost-effective and easy fix is to use a solar screen on your windows. Custom Textilene® 80% Solar Screens have a uniform weave design which provide superior outward visibility and ventilation, allowing you to effectively block out the sun’s heat. Plus, they’re attractive. For rooms that need some daylight but a serious decrease in heat, these solar screens are a great option.
A more labor-intensive solution is to paint your roof white. Allowing your entire roof to reflect heat can be a very efficient way to keep your home cooler. An experiment found that buildings with white roofs were an average of 25℉ cooler inside than other buildings with darker roofs. White roofs can even help reduce the temperature of a whole city!
An inexpensive solution is to seal all air leaks. Sealing up any cracks and crevices around windows and doors can be very effective at reducing air loss. Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment. A low-expansion spray foam sealant may be needed on larger gaps.
Just like sealing air leaks works to prevent both warm and cool air from escaping from your home, so will installing new insulation in your walls, ceilings, and attic space.
Remember to use your dishwasher, oven, washer, dryer, and other large appliances at night to reduce the strain on the energy grid and help keep your place cooler.
Plant trees and shrubs to add shade to your ac unit and the sunniest side of your home. For most, the south side of the house receives the most sun.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with newer more energy-efficient CFL or LED ones. Not only do they use less energy they also produce less heat, keeping your home cooler at night.
Taking the steps listed above, most of which can be done without professional installation, can help you stay cool when the heat is on!
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