10 Ways Windows Can Keep Your Room Cooler in the Summer

Summer means warmer temperatures and increased discomfort. For those who live in warmer climates, sitting in front of a fan while indoors may barely seem like a relief from the heat.

Others may be used to cranking up their air conditioning once the hot season hits, but it can take a huge toll on monthly energy bills. In fact, since more people are cranking up their ACs to deal with the heat, energy prices rise due to the increased demand.

If you’re looking for relief from the heat and high energy bills, there are a few ways to keep a room cooler during the summer — and they involve utilizing one simple thing in your house.

How Your Windows Can Make Your Room Cooler

Windows are great resources for keeping the heat out of rooms during the summer. By incorporating a few cheap or free hacks, you’ll be on your way to relief in no time.

Here are 10 ways you can use your windows to make rooms cooler during the summer:

1. Utilize Curtains

If you’re willing to spend a few bucks on curtains, the small investment can go a long way.

Curtains provide an extra line of defensive from sunlight pouring into a room. By keeping them drawn during the hottest hours of the day, curtains have the ability to absorb up to 33 percent of the heat that’s threatening to come into your home.

For maximum efficiency, be sure to install your curtains as close to the window as possible. You can also buy different types of curtains depending on how powerful you need their absorbency to be; medium-colored drapes have the ability to absorb more heat than lighter colors.

The best part about taking advantage of blinds or curtains is that they can add a beautiful touch to any room — all while making it cooler!

2. Keep Your Blinds Closed

If you have blinds on your windows, make sure to keep them closed. Highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by up to 45 percent.

The benefit of having blinds instead of curtains is that you have the freedom to adjust them to let in however much light you want.

3. Open Windows at Night

If you’re on a tight budget or just don’t want to spend the extra money, there is a way to counteract the heat in your home for free. To do so, start getting strategic with when you open your windows.

To increase air circulation in your home, open windows during the cooler hours of the night. By letting out the hot air, cooler air will circulate throughout your home and will bring the overall temperature down. Be sure to close the windows early in the morning before the temperature outside starts heating up again.

4. Consider Adding Mesh Window Screens

If curtains aren’t an option in some of your rooms, you can still install a protective screen to help keep solar radiation out, which will make your room cooler.

Mesh window screens come in a wide variety of options, including vinyl-coated fiberglass and pest-resistance. Window screens that are thicker will be most effective when keeping heat out of a room.

Other benefits of installing window screens include keeping bugs out of rooms while windows are open at night and decreasing visibility from the outside. Not only will your privacy increase, but you’ll be able to enjoy nighttime air without pests invading your home.

5. Install Shades

While shades are similar to curtains, there are multiple kinds available that have high efficiency when it comes to making a room cooler. Quilted roller shades and Roman shades have multiple layers of fiber that increase their power when it comes to keeping heat out.

6. Install Shutters

If you have a higher budget, then you might want to consider installing shutters. Shutters are the most expensive option when it comes to installing window treatments, but they have long lasting effects when it comes to keeping a room cooler.

Shutters can be customized to your preferred look and style — and they increase the value of your home. Like blinds, they can be adjusted to let the desired amount of light in a room while still blocking heat.

7. Install Low-Emissivity Films

Low-emissivity films, also known as “low-e” films, are thin metal coatings that can be installed directly onto your windows. Most energy-efficient windows come with a factory-applied low-e coating, but older windows do not.

If you’re not ready to completely replace your older windows with energy-efficient ones, then you can install low-e films yourself.

Low-e films are a great option for those who don’t enjoy sitting in dark rooms. These coatings block solar heat while still allowing visible light to come in.

8. Seal Air Leaks

Even if it doesn’t seem like there are tiny cracks or holes around your windows, there probably are. While they may seem small, they can start to add up — and decrease how cool your home is.

Addressing any air leaks in your home will help maintain cooler temperatures. By keeping cool air from escaping outside, your AC won’t have to run as hard to keep the house cool.

Sealing air leaks around windows is a low-cost improvement. To seal leaks, purchase a glazing compound or caulk in the tiny cracks around your window. This small project will have you seeing immediate results when it comes to lowering your energy bills.

9. Awnings

Window awnings are protective fixtures that are installed on the outside of a home, and in particular, can be installed outside of windows. While open, awnings have the ability to shade window areas and decrease overall heat. In the winter, awnings can be retracted to help heat up a house, making them a flexible option.

10. Plant Trees Around Windows

A beautiful (and fun!) way to help shade window areas is to plant trees and shrubby around the outside perimeters of them. Leaves on plants absorb heat and keep it from entering your home.

Conclusion

Overall, keeping your home cool during the summer doesn’t necessarily mean you need to crank up the AC. By implementing smart strategies, such as opening windows at night, installing blinds or curtains, and more, you’ll be on your way to relief from the heat in no time.

If you’re looking to replace your windows or doors and live in the Stouffville area, we’re here to help; contact us today for a free estimate.

On open windows and air exchange

Growing up we had a rule in our house: we had to open our windows at least once a day for at least five minutes, summer and winter, regardless of the outside temperature. This rule stuck with me and I’m starting to understand why when I look at my bathroom walls.

Mould and mildew is a common occurrence in winter in houses in Australia. The reason? Not enough air exchange.

This conclusion seems contradictory when I put my foot against any outside door. There is air movement, definitely.

But the question is not about air movement but about air exchange – a huge difference.

Air exchange and airing out

It is a general guideline for homeowners in Germany to air their houses regularly. The advice is not open to open windows a tiny bit for the whole day but to fully open all windows for five to 25 minutes (depending on the season). The goal is to exchange all indoor air, including all potential humidity, with outside air. This practice not only reduces our exposure to fumes (from paints, furniture, and carpets; so-called ‘off-gassing’) inside the house but it also reduces the risk of mould.

Further, the recommendation is to open opposite windows, meaning windows on opposite sides of the house. This allows for faster air exchange although windows can fly shut.

Now, most, if not all, German homes have central heating. An inside temperature of a constant 22°C is a requirement for rental properties and that’s not hard to reach. Airing out then seems odd because, in winter, the inside temperature will drop below that. But, airing out in winter is particularly important to avoid mould in walls and ceilings.

The physics behind air exchange

The physics is easy: warm air has a greater ability to store moisture than cold air. For a building, this means that warm (inside) air will hold more moisture than cold (outside) air. This fact has one important effect: water will condensate in places where it gets in contact with cold air. If this moisture happens to collect on a wall or ceiling, it will, over time, form mould and mildew.

However, warm and cold air also exchange nicely. Or rather, they mix and try to even out the temperature and moisture content. It’s the same at a beach on a warm summer day where during the day the wind blows out to sea where the air is cooler and at night the draft reverses.

The same principle applies to air moving in and out of a building.

The trick here though is to keep the exchange brief. Quick air exchange means that no moisture stored in the warm air can condensate on any walls, windows, doors or ceilings. Also, no walls or window frames can cool off too much. Any cooling would result in higher energy demand to reheat.

Airing versus draft

Having a drafty house, it might seem pretty useless to air regularly because there is already so much air movement going on. However, in a drafty house airing is even more important to avoid mould.

Mould grows, as I said when there is a) humidity in the air, and b) when warm, humid air, gets in contact with cold walls or windows. For example, every shower produces a lot of warm, humid air – also known as steam. The moisture will condensate on any windows, walls, and ceilings that are colder than the air temperature. Moving this air out of the building quickly is therefore crucial.

A house not properly heated or insulated has another important backlash (among soo many): walls and ceilings will always be cooler than the inside air temperature. Cold walls and ceilings provide the perfect opportunity for warm air to lose its stored moisture. And it’s not just the moisture coming from a shower I’m talking about. A family of four will ‘evaporate’ 10 to 12 litres of water into the air each day through breathing, cooking, showering, and washing. This moisture has the potential to collect on cold walls, along cold windows seals, and at the bottom of cold outside doors.

Airing can decrease the risk of this moisture collecting and result in mould. A regular complete air exchange will allow high humid air to escape the building, not just bit by bit through cracks in the wall.

Other reasons for airing

The mould and mildew issue aside, there are other major benefits to regular, complete air exchange.

Everything in our house will release some kind of fume, some can even cause respiratory conditions. The details are scary and airing will help to minimise this ‘off-gassing’.

Another reason for airing is to exchange ‘used’ air with fresh air. Yes, there are conditions under which the outside air is less appealing than the inside air but depending on your location there are methods to still exchange air. For example is morning air usually less polluted than afternoon air.

Lastly, air exchange through airing rather than through a powered air exchanger uses no energy!

Even though it goes against my instinct at the moment to open the windows in my house to let cool air come it, I know it’s a good practice to keeping a healthy interior.

Объясняем предлоги времени за три минуты

В русском языке всё просто: мы говорим «Я вернусь в 7 часов», «Мы поедем к бабушке в августе», «Он доделает работу в пятницу», везде используя предлог «в». Однако в английском в каждом из предложений предлоги будут разные: в зависимости от случая, нужно выбрать между in, at и on. В чём их разница? Объясняем в нашей шпаргалке. Сохраняйте, чтобы держать её под рукой.

• точное время : at 8 pm — в 8 вечера, at 6:30 — в 6:30, at midnight — в полночь;
• праздничный период : at Christmas — на Рождество, at Easter — на Пасху;
• at night (ночью);
• at the weekend(s) — в выходные (британский английский);
• at breakfast time / lunchtime / dinner time — во время завтрака / обеда / ужина.

Предлог at употребляется и в выражениях at the moment / at the minute / at present / at this time — в этот момент, в эту минуту, сейчас, в это время:

Can we talk later? I’m busy at the moment. — Мы можем поговорить позже? Я сейчас занят.

А также в выражении at the same time — в одно и то же время :

Kate and I arrived at the same time. — Мы с Кэти прибыли в одно и то же время.

• дни недели и праздники : on Monday — в понедельник, on my birthday — в мой день рождения, on Christmas Day — в день Рождества, on Halloween Eve — в канун Хэллоуина;
• дни недели+ morning — утро, afternoon — день, evening — вечер, night — ночь: on Tuesday morning — во вторник утром;
• даты : on the 20th of June — 20-ого июня;
• on the weekend(s) — в выходные ( американский английский )

Предлог on можно опустить в разговоре, когда упоминаются дни недели.

I’ll see you on Monday / I’ll see you Monday. — Увидимся в понедельник.

We always have brunch on Sunday mornings / We always have brunch Sunday mornings. — Мы всегда ходим на бранч воскресным утром.

Чтобы тренироваться, записывайся на онлайн-интенсив «Английская грамматика» и покупай книгу «Всё, что вам нужно знать о временах» .

• год : in 1992 — в 1992, in 2006 — в 2006;
• месяц : in December — в декабре, in June — в июне;
• десятилетие : in the sixties — в шестидесятых, in the 1790s — в 1790-х;
• век : in the 19th century — в 19 веке;
• сезон : in winter — зимой, in summer — летом;
• время суток (кроме ночи):in the morning — утром , in the afternoon —
  днём , in the evening — вечером .

Предлог in также употребляется, когда говорим о том, что какое-то действие заняло определённое количество времени.

I learnt to drive in two months. — Я научился водить за два месяца.

Ещё in используется в словосочетании in a few minutes / in six months etc . — через несколько минут, через шесть месяцев и т. д.;

The train will be leaving in a few minutes. — Поезд отправится через несколько минут.

Greg has gone away. He’ll be back in a few weeks. Грег уехал. — Он вернётся через несколько недель.

I’ll see you in the morning. — Увидимся утром.

I’ll see you on Friday morning. — Увидимся в пятницу утром.

at Christmas — на Рождество как праздник в целом, но on Christmas Day — в Рождество как конкретный день

Do you give each other presents at Christmas? — Вы дарите друг другу подарки на Рождество?

We have family dinner on Christmas Day. — В день Рождества у нас семейный ужин.

in the night — в течение конкретной ночи, но at night — ночью в целом

I don’t like walking on the streets at night. — Я не люблю бродить по улицам по ночам.

I was woken up by a noise in the night. — Я проснулся от шума этой ночью.

on time — вовремя, но in time for something / to do something — ко времени что-то сделать — и in time — заранее, заблаговременно.

The 12:00 meeting started on time. — Встреча в 12:00 началась вовремя.

Will you be home in time for dinner? — Ты будешь дома к ужину?

I We hope we will get to the airport in time. — Надеемся, что мы прибудем в аэропорт заблаговременно.

БЕЗ ПРЕДЛОГОВ

• next week, month, year etc — на следующей неделе, в следующем месяце, в следующем году и т. д.;
• last night, year etc — прошлой ночью, в прошлом году и т. д.;
• this week, month etc — на этой неделе, в этом месяце и т. д.;
• every day, night, year etc — каждый день, ночь, год и т. д.;
• today — сегодня, tomorrow — завтра, yesterday — вчера.

Записывая — проще учить. Поэтому мы создали крутой ежедневник Linguabook , в котором можно писать, рисовать, составлять списки и строить схемы. А ещё в нём много советов по изучению английского!