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The use of air conditioners accounts for the majority of electric consumption in the home and contribute to rising electric bills during the summer. This is why it is increasing important to find ways to cool the home naturally. There are some very simple methods to insure a comfortable indoor temperature.

Blocking heat is a good starting point in natural cooling. Make sure the home is properly insulated. Check the attic and around round doors, windows and even outlet to insure there is no hot air leaking in. Proper insulation can save a small fortune on utility bills. Caulk and weather stripping are rather inexpensive and can help tremendously in the prevention of losing cool air and letting heat inside the home.

Using reflective materials on the homes exterior can help bounce the heat away from the home. The color of the material is even important. Darker colors absorb seventy to ninety percent of the suns energy producing more heat in the home. Lighter colors are better at deflecting the energy and heat from the sun. Having radiant barriers installed can help reduce the heat being absorbed by the roof. These are foil faced paper that can be stapled to the roofs rafters on the underside of the roof.

The use of some light colored curtains that actually cover the majority of the window will reflect the heat.

Some careful landscaping can help to shade the home saving up to forty percent on cooling cost. Plant trees on the south and west sides of the home. Deciduous trees provide shade in the summer and let light and heat through in the winter months. Trellises placed at least six inches from the wall are ideal to grow vines on. It leaves a cool zone close to home and serves as a wind break. Shrubs work well to provide shade for the lower portion of the house and provide a wind break against the elements. Ask a local nursery to get help in finding plants that suit needs.

Should one choose to turn off the air conditioning and open the windows do it on cool days. A strategically placed fan can help to remove hot air and bring cooler air in. There are even fans now with both an intake and outtake side that pull cool air in while pushing hot air out. This cuts down on the guess work of which way to face the fan in the window.

Sources cited:
http://www.eartheasy.com /live_naturalcooling.htm

Learn more about this author, L. Beall.
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