Although summer is winding down temperatures outside continue to climb, along with utility bills for essentials like air conditioning inside the home to provide relief. Constant cool-downs can add up. Check out our design and architectural tips to construct and design a Signature Home to keep you cool while saving on energy efficiency.
Shading
It might be tempting to let the sunshine into your home, but you’ll soon find yourself living in a furnace. Creating shade around windows and doors can help minimize sun exposure and keep internal temperatures lower. Elements like roof overhangs, awnings, or large trees and other plants can provide this. If a window is placed somewhere with direct sunlight, think about a window treatment like blackout curtains, external blinds, or even high reflectivity film.
Ventilation
For the times when there is a breeze you want to let into your home, cross-ventilation is key. At Signature Homes, we choose partners that know how to work with the natural airflow and wind currents of your location. This makes sure you can situate porches, windows, doors, and balconies in a way that allows summer breezes in instead of blocking them out. One old trick was to design bedrooms in the corners of the home to allow for that cross-ventilation.
Heat-Reducing Materials
The right materials can make sure a home is both cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Things like concrete, stone, and adobe will absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. The key is to find a heavy and dense material with a high thermal mass. Masonry walls and concrete floors will also help keep the internal temperature of your home more consistent.
At Signature Homes, we’re here to make sure your house is the most comfortable space it can be year-round. Contact us today to get started on your summer safe haven.
