The Cliffs Cottage at Furman

Keeping it Cool Inside!

As balmy May temperatures blossom into summer heat, we begin to deny ourselves the sunlight we so craved in February. Blinds and drapes are pulled against the daylight glare. Windows and screen doors are thrown wide to capture evening breezes. We dress in lightweight fabrics and light reflective colors. Many of our cooling strategies are simply common sense, and hopefully, common practice.

How can we step beyond the obvious into more sustainable behaviors, and alter our surroundings to reduce consumption?

Inside most of our homes in this warm climate, fans are essential equipment. Attic fans and strategically-placed box fans can cross-ventilate, exhausting much of the warmer air of the day, and drawing in cooler evening air. Ceiling fans keep individual rooms comfortable. At
our house, we play an annual game with ourselves to see how long we can refrain from turning on the air conditioning, and how soon we can turn it off in the Fall.

When inevitably, we succumb to turning on the air, we should make sure that our filters have been recently changed, and keep the setting just over 80 degrees in order to use as little power as possible to cool our living spaces. Folks with zoned heating and cooling have the added benefit of being able to adjust high and low usage areas accordingly.

Out of doors, there are more adjustments we can make to keep our quarters cooler, thereby reducing energy use. Is it time to repaint or re-roof? Consider light, reflective colors and materials. Install retractable awnings to cover windows and patio/deck areas with sliding glass doors. Create shade by planting trees and bushes, especially on the south and west sides of your property. Shade your air conditioning unit. Place trellises for climbing plants 6 or so inches away from walls, leaving a buffer of air. When you are finished, plant even more green living things around your home, not only to keep you cooler, but to absorb carbon dioxide, prevent flash flooding and soil erosion, and provide habitat.

A few pertinent figures

• Fans can use as little as a 10th of the power of air conditioning.
• In the sun, dark surfaces can be up to 70% hotter than light ones.
• Shading can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 20%.