Published: Thursday, July 29, 2010
Keep your cool with shade trees, insulation
With temperatures rising it's time to consider some cost-effective ways to beat the heat.
The least obvious way to cool off involves help from Mother Nature. Large shade trees can have a profound affect on the interior temperature of your home.
Make a simple sketch of your home showing its location on your lot. It is important to include a north arrow or at least where the sun rises in relation to your home.
Show the plan to someone at your local nursery or to a landscape professional. They can recommend a size and type of tree, and optimal planting locations.
Decorative window awnings constructed of aluminum or canvas are another way to ward off the sun.
A negative to awnings, as with trees, is they can make the interior of the home dark and uninviting. A retractable awning, that can be raised when not needed, could make most sense.
Insulation is a must for every home. Floor, wall and ceiling insulation are excellent ways to combat heat. During the winter, the insulation will hold the heat in.
Insulation can be added quite economically, especially if you install it yourself. Many local utility companies offer rebates or low interest loans as incentives to install insulation because it improves the energy efficiency of the home.
While insulation R-values will vary regionally, a median guideline would be R-19 below floors, R-13 in exterior walls and R-30 to 38 in attic space.
Frequently, the existing insulation can remain and be added to, as in an attic, for example. Exterior walls can easily be retrofitted with insulation which is blown in through small penetrations made in the exterior at each stud bay.
Along with adding insulation, all exterior cracks, penetrations and gaps between windows, doors and other openings should be caulked or sealed with expanding foam.
Use an exterior grade paintable latex caulk with silicone. Large penetrations can be filled with expanding spray foam. As an added measure, all exterior doors and windows should also be weather-stripped.
Homes constructed with flat roofs where no attic exists can have rigid foam insulation applied above the roof decking and below the roof cover. This work can be done when it becomes necessary to replace the roof cover. Reflective paints can also be applied to many flat roofs.
A more expensive alternative, but one which will pay big dividends, is replacement windows. Upgrading from traditional single-pane windows to windows with insulated glass will make a huge difference on the amount of heat allowed to enter the home.
Options such as low-E glass, tinting and reflective film will add to its efficiency. Again, check with your local utility company for cost incentives.
Reflective window film is a less expensive alternative, but it is difficult to install yourself. Manufacturers are recommending professional installation.
Film can reduce inside temperatures up to 10 degrees or more and will even help to protect window coverings, furniture and floor coverings from fading. And, unlike shade trees and awnings, it will not darken the home.
Window screens consisting of dense vinyl fabric are an excellent way to reduce heat. These are similar to traditional window screens, but the screening is installed over the entire window, rather than just over the operable section.
Ventilating the attic can do wonders to reduce the hot-box effect. Attic ventilation can be achieved in a number of ways. The most common is the passive type where vents are installed at the eaves and the ridge of the roof. This is the type of ventilation that is required by most building codes and is minimal.
Even if you have air conditioning, add an electric attic fan to supplement the air conditioner, allowing it to labor less and save energy.
For tips from James and Morris Carey, go to www.onthehouse.com or call the listener hot line, 800-737-2474, ext. 59. The Careys are also on KRKO (1380-AM) from 6 to 10 a.m. every Saturday.
The least obvious way to cool off involves help from Mother Nature. Large shade trees can have a profound affect on the interior temperature of your home.
Make a simple sketch of your home showing its location on your lot. It is important to include a north arrow or at least where the sun rises in relation to your home.
Show the plan to someone at your local nursery or to a landscape professional. They can recommend a size and type of tree, and optimal planting locations.
Decorative window awnings constructed of aluminum or canvas are another way to ward off the sun.
A negative to awnings, as with trees, is they can make the interior of the home dark and uninviting. A retractable awning, that can be raised when not needed, could make most sense.
Insulation is a must for every home. Floor, wall and ceiling insulation are excellent ways to combat heat. During the winter, the insulation will hold the heat in.
Insulation can be added quite economically, especially if you install it yourself. Many local utility companies offer rebates or low interest loans as incentives to install insulation because it improves the energy efficiency of the home.
While insulation R-values will vary regionally, a median guideline would be R-19 below floors, R-13 in exterior walls and R-30 to 38 in attic space.
Frequently, the existing insulation can remain and be added to, as in an attic, for example. Exterior walls can easily be retrofitted with insulation which is blown in through small penetrations made in the exterior at each stud bay.
Along with adding insulation, all exterior cracks, penetrations and gaps between windows, doors and other openings should be caulked or sealed with expanding foam.
Use an exterior grade paintable latex caulk with silicone. Large penetrations can be filled with expanding spray foam. As an added measure, all exterior doors and windows should also be weather-stripped.
Homes constructed with flat roofs where no attic exists can have rigid foam insulation applied above the roof decking and below the roof cover. This work can be done when it becomes necessary to replace the roof cover. Reflective paints can also be applied to many flat roofs.
A more expensive alternative, but one which will pay big dividends, is replacement windows. Upgrading from traditional single-pane windows to windows with insulated glass will make a huge difference on the amount of heat allowed to enter the home.
Options such as low-E glass, tinting and reflective film will add to its efficiency. Again, check with your local utility company for cost incentives.
Reflective window film is a less expensive alternative, but it is difficult to install yourself. Manufacturers are recommending professional installation.
Film can reduce inside temperatures up to 10 degrees or more and will even help to protect window coverings, furniture and floor coverings from fading. And, unlike shade trees and awnings, it will not darken the home.
Window screens consisting of dense vinyl fabric are an excellent way to reduce heat. These are similar to traditional window screens, but the screening is installed over the entire window, rather than just over the operable section.
Ventilating the attic can do wonders to reduce the hot-box effect. Attic ventilation can be achieved in a number of ways. The most common is the passive type where vents are installed at the eaves and the ridge of the roof. This is the type of ventilation that is required by most building codes and is minimal.
Even if you have air conditioning, add an electric attic fan to supplement the air conditioner, allowing it to labor less and save energy.
For tips from James and Morris Carey, go to www.onthehouse.com or call the listener hot line, 800-737-2474, ext. 59. The Careys are also on KRKO (1380-AM) from 6 to 10 a.m. every Saturday.
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