The Shady Side of Energy Savings

There’s a simple principle at work here. If you want less heat in your house, don’t let in so much sunshine. Blocking the sun’s entry points – through your windows, in particular – is one way to keep cooler while saving energy. And the statistics back up the logic.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, window awnings can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south-facing windows and by 77% on west-facing windows. South or west, that’s a pretty sizeable reduction. Interior blinds on sunny windows help too. As a matter of fact, highly reflective blinds reduce heat gain by around 45% when completely closed and lowered.
Then there are draperies. Their ability to prevent heat gain depends on fabric, color, etc., but as a general rule, you can know that studies show medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33%.
Now, we’re obviously not interior decorators at Kent Heating and Air Conditioning, so you may be wondering what all of this has to do with our area of specialty, your heating and air conditioning system. It’s a simple connection: a number of areas in your home affect your energy use, and we can show you some easy ways to save.
If you’d like to learn about some simple steps to improve your cooling comfort while holding down energy costs, take a look at our report, Common Sense Ways to Stay Cooler This Summer.