Eco-friendly can and should be your favourite term when it comes to home upgrades. Why? Because eco-friendly often means big cost savings and a huge boost to your home comfort. You don’t need to fight against nature to enjoy a comfortable experience year-round. You can work with it to help you get the most out of your property for less.
With rising energy prices hitting everyone’s pocketbook, it’s time to consider the ways you can adapt your home to stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. There are so many options out there, but these upgrades by far take the cake for their function, value, and how they’ll change your home.
Retractable Awnings
One of the most effective ways to keep your home cooler in the summer is to use the power of shade. Awnings, of course, have historically been difficult to set up, delicate, or a pain to maintain. That’s why it’s time to look into highly durable, UV and water-resistant retractable awnings instead of a traditional awning. These sleek solutions easily fit away without a hassle and can withstand winds up to 95mph, allowing you to enjoy the cooling factor of the shade on your terms.
Smart Landscaping
Work with a professional landscaper with the explicit goal of making your home more insulated and shaded. This means trees with large canopies that can shade your home during those hot sunny days, and evergreens that block out the coldest winds. To put the effect of simple, smart landscaping into perspective, consider that it can be 25°F cooler under the shade of a tree than on a blacktop, and can help you reduce your air conditioning costs by 15 to 50%. The best part of any landscaping upgrade? It’s an immediate boost to your curb appeal and your property’s value. People love trees; just make those trees also work hard to reduce your energy bills.
Sash Windows
Sash windows are a classic that can help boost your curb appeal and your property’s value, but what you may not know is that they have been used for centuries to improve airflow and keep homes cool during summers. The bottom section draws in cool air, while the top allows for the warm air (which naturally rises) to escape. Of course, considering the cost of windows, it’s imperative that you only upgrade to this style if your home was in need of a replacement in the first place.
Window Lattices
A more affordable way to keep your home cool is to add decorative window lattice. These have been used extensively in some of the world’s hottest places in the Arabic world to offer shade, increased ventilation, and privacy. You’ll find them across the Mediterranean and beyond, and the best part is they can be removed or folded away as needed.
How they work is simple: air is forced through smaller holes into your home. That force means you get a stronger breeze to keep cool while the rest of the latticework blocks out more of the sun.
Blackout Curtains
Similarly, you can use blackout or heavy-set curtains to block out the cold during winter nights. Open them up in the day (particularly if it’s sunny) to let the warmth of the light in, and close them again to boost your energy efficiency.
