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We all know that living in Arizona is hot. Excessive heat warnings seem like a weekly occurrence, and summers seem longer than ever. Those of us living here year-round know when the National Weather Service issues a heat warning, it\u2019s best to stay indoors, if possible, drink more water, and check on the well-being of family, friends, and neighbors. But what can be done to keep our inside temperatures comfortable? Here are five ways to stay cool without having to adjust your thermostat.<\/p>\n
An important strategy to maintain cool indoor temperatures is to block out as much direct sunlight from entering your home. Installing solar-blocking blinds, shades, or curtains and closing them in the east in the morning, south during the midday, and in the west in the afternoon and evening can have a dramatic impact on how hot your home gets. Installing solar or sunscreen shades inside your home\u2019s windows or outside your home is an easy, cost-effective way of cutting down on the heat produced by the sun.<\/p>\n
Ceiling and floor fans are essential\u2014being easy to turn on when needed, cost-efficient, and not power hungry. Fans will not only increase the body\u2019s natural evaporation rate of water, making you feel cooler, but will also mix the air and prevent hot\/cold spots from forming. That blowing air will disturb the microclimate just above your skin surface, blowing away the hot air and helping you feel cool. Best of all, fans can lower the indoor temperature by up to four degrees. In other words, it\u2019s a simple but effective summer cooling strategy. <\/p>\n
When you\u2019re trying to keep your home cool in summer, it\u2019s a good idea to not have any sources of heat in your house on during the day. Bake in the morning or after sunset. Or try eating lighter foods like sandwiches, salads, and stir-fry that don\u2019t require the use of the oven.<\/p>\n
Take advantage of natural light. Replace any incandescent bulbs as they are very inefficient. Most of the energy they use creates heat, not light. If you\u2019ve ever changed a bulb right after it blew out, you know they get blazing hot. Installing LED or fluorescent lighting will cut down on that heat and on your monthly electricity bill. The price of LED lights has rapidly dropped in recent years, and these bulbs are often smart bulbs allowing integration with apps and may be part of a comprehensive security solution for your home.<\/p>\n
Another way to keep your home cool is to have your HVAC system serviced on a regular basis. Preventative maintenance will keep your AC unit running at peak levels and help keep your electric bill low. <\/p>\n