
A Better Way to Heat & Cool Your Home
As we transition from summer to fall, creating a comfortable home for you and your family becomes essential. Older homes are often drafty and inefficient, leading to inconsistent indoor temperatures. Here are some steps you can take to improve your home's comfort in the heat and cold:
- Switch to a Heat Pump: Heat pumps heat and cool your home in any weather. They are an efficient way to control indoor air temperature. Visit switchison.org to find rebates you may qualify for.
- Are you a renter? Consider buying a portable heat pump, a more efficient and effective version of a window box AC to control indoor air temperature. As a more affordable option, it doubles as a heater during the winter and you can take it with you when you move. Some even dehumidify a space and can even act as air purifiers. You can purchase them at a local hardware store and online. Note: these do not qualify for rebates.
- Renters can also let their property owners know about BayREN’s Multifamily Program, which offers rebates to upgrade the building’s energy and water efficiency.
- Check Your Home’s Energy Efficiency. Adding or replacing the insulation, and implementing air sealing measures can create a big impact in your home comfort. During the summer, insulation and air sealing can help keep cool air in and hot air out. Qualified home energy assessors can help you identify steps to improve your home’s performance. If you’d like to do your own insulation inspection, you can follow the instructions created by the Department of Energy:
- Block the Sunlight: Physically blocking the sunlight from getting into your home can be an effective way to cool your home. Close your blinds, use blackout curtains, plant trees, and shade your windows with awnings.
- Inspect Your Ceiling Fan: Your fan only cools your home if it is rotating counterclockwise (when looking up at it). Clockwise motion only pushes hot air around your home rather than cooling it down. Check your ceiling fans to maximize cooling!
- Change Your Lightblubs: Incandescent and halogen lightbulbs produce a lot of heat. Switching to LED lights can help you cool your home and also save energy on your utility bills.