The temperatures are rising and it’s not even the hottest part of the summer yet. It can be hard to enjoy this time of year when there is no respite from the heat. Don’t dread those summertime electricity bills anymore. With a few tips for insulating your home, you can have the cool, comfortable home you want without breaking the bank. With a little help from some professionals and a little do-it-yourself help, you can lower your monthly costs and even increase your home’s value.
Consider investing in renewable energy from Reliant Energy plans, which will not only help you protect the environment but also drastically lower your power bill.
Insulation
This is one of the most common ways to lose heat or cool air: lack of adequate insulation in the attic. There are many types of insulating materials and many methods of installing in existing homes. For existing homes, spray foam solutions can work very well. You can also buy rolls of insulation for the floors of the attic. These steps can make your home more energy efficient while keeping it comfortable in hot and cold weather.
Windows
Reducing bright sunlight is one way to lower the temperature. Draw the shades when direct sunlight can heat up your room. Consider light-reflecting solar film. This is a great solution to protect furniture or artwork from fading UV rays. If you have the budget, you can invest in energy efficient windows to replace older, less efficient windows that may contribute to up to 30% of your home energy use.
Doors
Check your doorways. Can you feel cool air around your door when you stand outside? Perhaps you can feel a draft when standing inside your door on a windy day. If so, you need to add some rubber weather stripping around the doorway. If you can still feel air coming in or out under your doorway, install a draft stopper to the bottom of your exterior door.
