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Forbes incorporated Cariloha bamboo sheets in her article, “How to Keep Your Home Cool in the Summer – And Lower Cooling Costs”, where multiple options are recommended from interior insulation to cooler bedding options. Forbes is a leading global business publication that receives more than 87 million unique monthly visitors.
How To Keep Your Home Cool In The Summer — And Lower Cooling Costs
By Terri Williams
Warmer-than-average heat has been the norm this year. In fact, this summer is predicted to be one of the hottest in U.S. history, according to data from The Weather Channel. Trying to keep your home comfortably cool can lead to increased energy costs.
“Temperatures can exceed 150 degrees in attics where air handlers and furnaces are sometimes located, and the temperatures outdoors can go above 100 degrees mid-summer,” warns Micah Sherman, virtual HVAC expert at Frontdoor.
And when temperatures rise to these extremes, it makes your HVAC system work harder. However, there are several ways to keep your home cooler in the summer — and some of them can also lower your cooling costs.
Prioritize Insulation
While you may normally associate insulation with winter, extreme heat is another time to consider its importance. “Insulation helps to stabilize temperatures throughout your home, prevent structural damage to the foundation that can be caused by excess heat and moisture, and it helps to prolong the life of your HVAC system,” explains Michael DiMartino, senior vice president of installations at Power Home Remodeling.
Heat rises, and he tells me that in a poorly insulated attic, all of that heat (which comes through the roof) is trapped in the attic and fights against the cooled air below. In a second story home, you may notice the top floor is often hotter.
“Without proper ventilation, an unfinished attic can be privy to condensation, which can cause mold and other unwanted growth in the attic that can lead to longer term structural damage,” DiMartino says. “Radiant barriers are used to reflect radiant heat and reduce hot air transference — they are two-sided foil-based materials: think of a mirror that’s reflecting heat away.”
DiMartino explains that insulation creates space or air pockets between two layers of material. “Adding rafter vents, which are also known as baffles, can help direct fresh air in the attic, which keeps a space between the insulation and the roof decking,” he says. This provides an area for air to flow from exterior soffit vents up into the attic.
Insulate With Landscaping
Your attic isn’t the only place where insulation can help to keep the home cool. “Planting trees, shrubbery, and other consciously placed landscaping around your home can block the sun’s rays, and provide much needed shade in the summer,” says Katie Dills, brand president of The Cleaning Authority. She tells me that this type of insulation can also assist with blocking wind in colder months.
Address Air Leaks
Your HVAC is working hard to cool your home, but air leaks — for example, gaps around your windows and doors — can allow that cool air to escape. Air can even escape from gaps around your dryer vent. Dills recommends checking for cracks or openings along the panes of your windows and doors. “Seal any air leaks by caulking or weather-stripping,” she says.
Depending on the condition of your windows, it may be time for an upgrade. “Energy-efficient windows are made from vinyl or synthetic substances and typically include two panes of glass with a Low-E coating, an insulated frame, and Argon Gas — all designed to keep your air conditioning inside and hot air out,” DiMartino says, adding that these types of windows also provide better reflection from the sunlight.
He recommends hiring a professional to conduct a pressurization test to pinpoint specific areas in your home that are enabling air leakage. “If air is escaping through your doorways and you can’t replace them, you can add weatherstripping, caulk, or even put down a simple door sweep or towel to close any gaps.”
To inspect for air leaks on your own, DiMartino shares his at-home tricks:
- Trust your senses: Do you feel hot air at your feet or around the frame?
- Find a flashlight: Do you see pockets of light shining through into the home where it shouldn’t?
- Use a candle or a lighter: Is the flame flickering along the sides of a door or window?
Bedding With Cooling Properties
The Buffy Breeze Sheets and Duvet Cover are made of eucalyptus and feel like a cross between silk and cotton. The lightweight material is temperature regulating and absorbs moisture to provide a cool and dry experience. The set is available in dozens of colors. If you prefer bamboo, the Cariloha Retreat Bamboo Sheets are softer than silk, and designed to keep you 3 degrees cooler than non-bamboo materials. The sheets also have odor and allergy-resistant properties to stay fresher for longer. Color choices include oasis green, white, laguna blue, black sand, and coastal gray.
Read the entire article and more from Forbes here.